TEN years ago today Blackburn Rovers came close to reaching the League Cup final when, under Mark Hughes, they travelled to Old Trafford for a semi-final second leg.

The Lancashire Telegraph looks back at that dramatic night in Manchester.

THE first leg at Ewood Park had ended 1-1 after Morten Gamst Pedersen cancelled out Louis Saha's opener meaning Rovers headed into the contest firmly in with a chance of making the final at the Millennium Stadium.

But they were dealt an early blow when Ruud Van Nistelrooy fired United in front inside the opening 10 minutes.

It was a fortunate opener for United as the Dutch forward profited when Michael Gray's interception went straight to him and he fired past Brad Friedel.

United lost Ryan Giggs to injury shortly after but Rovers were back in the tie just after the half hour when Steven Reid was on hand to level with a powerful shot after a mix-up in the home defence.

Back came the hosts though and they were awarded a hugely controversial penalty when Zurab Khizanishvili was penalised for handball only for Friedel to superbly save Van Nistelrooy's spot kick to keep the scores level at the break.

Half-time saw a scuffle in the tunnel between the two sets of players and it was United who made the brighter start to the second half, taking the lead six minutes after the interval thanks to a Louis Saha goal.

Rovers were then denied a penalty of their own when Graham Poll waved away appeals for handball against Rio Ferdinand as United held on to set up a final with Wigan Athletic which Sir Alex Ferguson's side won comfortably 4-0.

Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Gray, Reid, Savage, Tugay (Peter 86), Pedersen, Kuqi (Emerton 76), Bentley.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Todd, Mokoena

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra (Silvestre 80), Rooney, Fletcher, Giggs (Smith 13), Richardson, Saha, van Nistelrooy (Vidic 86).

Subs Not Used: Howard, Rossi