Fergie’s gamble pays off as United win League Cup

In Fergie we trust. When United took to the field without Edwin van der Sar, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and a host of other stars I thought that Spurs would go clinch the Carling-sponsored League Cup. After a nerve-wracking 120 minutes, United secured their second major trophy of the season thanks to a penalty shoot-out win against Harry Redknapp’s men.

There were also a host of bizarre initiates going on inside Wembley's concrete walls. Carling devoted a handful of sponsorship hoardings to fans whom sent their own designs in. It was hardly ground-breaking stuff - but a nice touch. Elsewhere, there was the highly dubious "who is the loudest fans?" scoreboard which flashed up every ten minutes and twice during extra-time. Unsurprisingly, the board claimed that the two sets of supporters were pretty equal with noise levels throughout the tense affair.

Prior to kick-off, there was also a strange series of large balloons carried onto the field containing flags boasting the 22 player's names. Most fans didn't notice that two of United's bizarrely-large Carling balloons didn't have any names on at all - perhaps they were expecting Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra to be rested too as Fergie took a huge gamble by chopping and changing his starting.

Ferdinand and Evra were two of the only players on show who you'd expect Fergie to play at Newcastle on Wednesday evening - along with wing-man Cristiano Ronaldo. Jonny Evans, Carlos Tevez and Paul Scholes also started - as did John O'Shea, Nani, Danny Welbeck and Darron Gibson. Ben Foster replaced VDS between the sticks.

Spurs were missing a number of high-profile squad players that were Cup-tied. However, Harry Redknapp named his strongest possible side - with Ledley King passing a late fitness test. Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko were the men charged with grabbing the goals in the absence of Robbie Keane.

The game was largely devoid of quality and United have Ben Foster to thank for pulling off a string of excellent saves. United enjoyed a decent opening, but Spurs soon found their composure and played the better football over the two-hours. The North London club will undoubtedly feel hard done-by, but some find goalkeeping from Foster will have impressed the Fabio Capello who was watching from the stands.

Aaron Lennon was particularly dangerous for the Lilywhites but a number of promising runs from the young midfielder failed to result in too many clear-cut chances. Gibson had United's best first-half chance with a stunning 25-yard effort flying inches over Hurelho Gomes' crossbar; but Spurs' backline, marshalled by King, kept Tevez and Welbeck quiet for long periods - and it was no surprise to see the latter pulled off on 55 minutes to be replaced by Anderson.

United almost broke the deadlock in the dying seconds. Cristiano Ronaldo burst into Spurs' penalty area and hit a ferocious shot against the woodwork. The ball fell to the ineffective Nani - who only had to slide the ball into an empty net - but the Portuguese winger somehow fluffed a pathetic effort wide in what proved to be the final kick of the regulation ninety minutes.

Penalties began to look inevitable as the game went into extra-time. Ryan Giggs replaced Gibson from the bench, but it was Spurs who came closest before the lottery of spot-kicks.

Bent was given time and space in the penalty box but saw his low drive well saved by Foster's legs. Moments later, Evra almost found the net with an unlikely long-range effort that whistled over the top of the bar.

The game went to penalties and they were taken, fortunately, in front of the 33,000-strong Red Army. Ryan Giggs got proceedings underway by celebrating St.David's Day with a low effort - and Foster handed United the advantage by saving substitute Jamie O'Hara's effort. Carlos Tevez and Vedran Corluka both scored, before Ronaldo put the Reds 3-1 up. David Bentley, another substitute, then sent a dismal effort wide which allowed Anderson to step up, drill home and secure United a third League Cup triumph.

It certainly wasn't classic and everyone's nerves were shot at the end - but United have claimed their second major trophy of the season and genuinely believe they can scoop all five big ones this season. MUFC - League Cup winners, 2009. Fantastic.

Full Time - Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United
Attendance - 88,217