Chelsea completed the double after Didier Drogba's second-half free-kick gave the Barclays Premier League champions a 1-0 victory at Wembley.

Despite Pompey having ridden their luck at times as the Blues hit the woodwork no fewer than five times, with one such incident seeing Salomon Kalou miss an open goal, the financially-stricken club were handed a glorious chance to take the lead when Juliano Belletti tripped winger Aruna Dindane.

However, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech guessed right to make what turned out to be a crucial save, before Drogba's stunning free-kick won it, with Frank Lampard failing to convert a late spot-kick.

Brown said: "We thought with Kalou missing and Chelsea hitting the post and bar that it might be our day.

"The penalty was the turning point, and it was just not meant to be.

"Kevin is obviously very disappointed but he has also got to give himself credit in the first place.

"He has been injured this week, but he still had the bottle to go up there and take it, so credit to him."

Brown continued: "We had a game plan, but Chelsea always looked like they could step it up a gear.

"But credit to the boys who kept going in difficult circumstances.

"We have had a fantastic cup run and the fans staying at the end showed we are all still together as a club."

The future at Fratton Park next season remains unclear, with many of the players set to be sold or released as Pompey aim to come out of administration as they begin life in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Manager Avram Grant has been linked with a switch to West Ham.

Brown said: "He has not given us any indication, maybe he is going to London but we will have to wait and see."

"A lot of the players out there on the pitch will not be at the club next season, so it was a fitting farewell at the end.

"It is going to take time for Portsmouth, and that is down to the administrator and anyone who is going to buy the club to sort it all out and move on."