Welcome to Roger’s Rovers Advent Calendar - read the full story behind it and add your comments HERE.

Day: 23/30

Season: 2001/02

Fixture: Rovers 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur – Worthington Cup Final – 24/2/02

Highlights

Why Chosen

The most obvious choice over the past three weeks. Rovers lift the cup with a combination of Arte and Labore.

The Rovers journey to immortality began five months before the final. Oldham Athletic dispatched in Round 2 with Jansen and (new podcast favourite) Darren Dunning on the scoresheet. Favourable home draws would see Rovers progress through Rounds 3 and 4 with victories against Middlesbrough (After Extra Time – Hignett and Short) and Manchester City 2-0 (Nils-Eric Johansson and Damien Johnson). The wins set up a mouth-watering Round 5 tie against Arsenal, once again at Ewood. The contest was all but over just 21 minutes after kick off. Jansen’s double and a Mark Hughes goal gave Souness’ team a dream start, Jansen would complete his hat-trick in the second half as Rovers ran riot 4-0. 

This sent Rovers into the two-legged semi final against Sheffield Wednesday. A professional display at Hillsborough saw Rovers leave South Yorkshire victorious 2-1 (Hignett and the newly signed Andy Cole) which led to another famous night at Ewood two weeks later. On 22nd January 2002, Jansen, Duff, Cole and Hignett sent Rovers on to the final, a 4-2 victory on the night, 6-3 on aggregate.

Sunday 24th February, in a sodden Welsh capital. Cardiff the destination for one of the best days in Rovers history. Tottenham Hotspur the opposition in the first English cup final to be played indoors.

The game itself was a typical final. Cagey and tight, Rovers started well, but needed a fine one on one stop from (Man of the Match) Brad Friedel to stay level. Minutes later it would be the Lancashire side that would take the lead through Matt Jansen. Jansen reacted quickly, pouncing on a deflected Keith Gillespie shot before slotting through the legs of Lilywhites keeper Neil Sullivan. Spurs were level just 8 minutes later though, as Christian Ziege turned in a cross after great play from Les Ferdinand. 

The London side would spurn some good moments in the early stages of the second half – before the match winning moment. With 68 minutes on the clock, Ledley King misjudged a clearance (under pressure from Jansen) before, England international and decorated new signing, Andy Cole wrote himself into Rovers folklore. An improvised finish, beyond the grasp of Sullivan gave Rovers the lead once more. Rovers fans nerves would jangle in the dying moments, surviving a late penalty shout for a foul on Teddy Sheringham before, just seconds later, Friedel denied Ferdinand with a point-blank header! It was to be our day. 

Rovers did enough to emerge from Cardiff with the title thanks in large part to the giant American keeper Friedel, but also inspired performances from Matt Jansen, Henning Berg (Craig Short suspended), Martin Taylor (in for the cup tied Lucas Neill) and especially Mark Hughes. The wily old veteran deployed in central midfield (in place of the suspended Garry Flitcroft and Tugay) rolled back the years with a vintage display. The unique feat of the Wales manager playing a domestic cup final in the home of the National team.

More reaction and headlines here

Aftermath 

Rovers, who’d been promoted just eight months prior to the Cardiff success had struggled after a bright start to the season. Rovers actually lost 10 of 12 in the Premier League from 1st December 2001 to the cup final.

Post victory Rovers found themselves in the relegation zone in 18th. 21 points from the remaining 12 games ensured Rovers would ultimately finish well clear of danger in 10th place.

The final games of that season would be the last we’d see of the fabled ‘holy trinity’ of Duff, Dunn and Jansen. The unfortunate series of events for Matt Jansen (illness and overlooked for England) culminating in a devastating accident in Rome which would ultimately signal the beginning of the end of the promising strikers career.

Dunn and Duff would go on to propel Rovers into the top 6 and Europe the season later as the club would go from strength to strength for the following decade. The Cardiff success was a catalyst for all that would follow.

Honourable Mentions 

Rovers 2-2 Manchester United (22/8/01) – Rovers first game back in the Premier League would be against defending Champions United, ironically the last opponents at Ewood in the relegation year of 1998/99. A David Beckham own goal and a cracker from Gillespie gave Rovers a point, but also the confidence to say that the team was able to perform at the level.

Rovers 7-1 West Ham United (14/10/01) – Rovers fans had become accustomed to seven goal home victories, with three occasions in the 90s. In October 2001 the new millennium would have its first edition. England manager Sven Goran Eriksson made his (long overdue) first appearance at Ewood Park as international hopefuls David Dunn and Matt Jansen both scored in a emphatic victory. Flitcroft, Johnson, a McCann own goal, Tugay and Hignett with the other goals.

Rovers 3-0 Aston Villa (5/3/02) – Rovers first game back at Ewood after the Cup success. A crucial 3-0 victory kick starting the road to safety. A cracking strike from David Dunn was followed by goals for Duff and Cole in a dominant home victory against the Villains.