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2001/2002 Worthington Cup Winners

Since taking over at Blackburn Rovers in March 2000, Graeme Souness has assiduously built a side that combines experience with some of the most talented youngsters in the country. He has spent wisely at Ewood Park and the result has been a return to the Premiership and now a major football league cup.
  
Souness paid tribute to match-winner Andy Cole, and man of the match Brad Friedel, who kept pre-match favourites Tottenham Hotspur out with some crucial saves. Blackburn acheived their first Cup win since 1928. The only sadness was that Jack Walker was no longer around to witness the end of a 74-year wait.

This page shows the players who beat Tottenham Hotspurs in the Final. Other important Rovers players who played in the route to the FA Cup, but missed the Finals, are Alan Kelly, John Filan, John Curtis, Craig Short, Darren Dunning, Jeff Kenna, Gary Filtcroft, Kerimoglu Tugay, Alan Mahon, Damien Johnson, and Corrado Grabbi.
Goalscorers Andy Cole & Matt Jansen
                 
                 
                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Graeme Souness
    
Phil Boersma
  
Brad Friedel (G)
  
 
Manager led team back to Premiership, and cup win.
  
Assistant Manager, and longest-serving steward.
  
Experienced Coach, and long-time friend of Souness
  
Won the Cup Final's Man of the Match award.
  
                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stig Inge Bjornebye (D)
  
Martin Taylor (D)
    
Nils-Eric Johansson (D)
  
 
Played well to keep winger Darren Anderton relatively quiet.
Looked composed on the ball and grew in stature as the game wore on.
Blocked Ziege's goal-bound shot before Ziege equalised later.
Worked with Berg in confidence guarding the Spurs striker Ferdinand.
  
                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Damien Duff (M)
    
David Dunn (M)
  
Keith Gillespie (M)
  
 
Home-grown boy did well at both ends. His pace kept Taricco busy. Good outlet for Bjornebye.
Veteran imposed authority, and kept possession well. against Tim Sherwood and Darren Anderton.
Local boy worked well in tandem with Hughes in the centre darting dribbles.
Inspired right winger created defence problems for Spurs.
  
                 
 
 
£8 millions club-record signing scored the match winner in the 69th minute with a clinical right foot finish.
  
 
Rovers Fans' favourite scored the opening goal at 25th minute. Has scored 5 goals during the cup campaign.
  
 
Andy Cole (S)
      
Matt Jansen (S)
      
                 
 
 
         
 
Jorge Yordi (S)
  
Craig Hignett (M)
          
 
Substitute for Matt Jansen. New loan signing has a shot saved.
  
Substitute for Gillespie. Impressive midfielder scored 3 goals in Worthington Cup campaign.
          
                 
                 
 
 
                 
  Blackburn Rovers route to the 2001/2002 Worthington Cup Final      
 
             
 
2nd Round
  
Blackburn Rovers
 2
Oldham Athletic
 0    
     
Matt Jansen, Darren Dunning
         
                 
 
             
 
3rd Round
  
Blackburn Rovers
 2
Middlesbrough
 1    
     
Craig Hignett, Craig Short
         
                 
 
             
 
4th Round
  
Blackburn Rovers
 2
Manchester City
 1    
     
Nils-Eric Johansson, Damien Johnson
          
                 
 
             
 
5th Round
  
Blackburn Rovers
 4
Arsenal
 0    
     
Matt Jansen (3 goals), Mark Hughes
          
                 
 
             
 
Semi Finals Leg 1
  
Blackburn Rovers
 2
Sheffield Wednesday
 1    
     
Craig Hignett, Andy Cole
         
 
             
 
Semi Finals Leg 2
 
Blackburn Rovers
 4
Sheffield Wednesday
 2    
     
Damien Duff, Matt Jansen, Andy Cole, Craig Hignett
          
                 
                 
     
Worthington Cup Final at
the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 24 February 2002.