This was a game between two of the sport’s best. It stood to reason that everyone wanted to see it happen.

The ability of Chelsea as a football club to snatch ignominy from the jaws of victory can never be underestimated, although last night’s victory at the Hawthorns at least protects a memorable Premier League campaign with another title, their fifth of the Abramovich era, writes Allan Prosser.

So much for ‘Alan Hardaker’s ginger stepson’, as I used to dub the unloved League Cup. Unloved by United, anyway. After yesterday’s gripping final, could we finally be said to be warming to this weird tri-handled pot?

PERHAPS the best piece of advice ever handed out to football referees came from Alan Hardaker, a much-respected former Football League secretary.