WHEN Liverpool and Cardiff walk out on to Wembley’s hallowed turf for Sunday afternoon’s Carling Cup final, Matt Jansen is ready to tell anyone in his vicinity “I’ve won that”.

It may have been a decade ago today that Jansen scored the opener in Blackburn Rovers’ 2-1 Worthington Cup final win over Spurs but the memories will never fade as he reflects on one of his career highlights.

It now has a different name and is held at a different venue, with Rovers’ triumph coming at the Millennium Stadium, but every time the League Cup final comes around Jansen can’t help but remember his own “incredible afternoon”.

“Of course you think about it,” said Jansen. “When the teams walk out for the final and I am watching it on television, I always turn around and tell whoever is around that I have won that competition.

“You never get bored of the bragging about it. It is definitely one of the highlights of my career, especially because we had been written off by so many people. Spurs were clear favourites.

“The greatest pride I have ever felt was when I was called up by England but, as we all know, that didn’t work out for me. Aside from that my career highlights were helping Rovers back into the Premier League and winning the Worthington Cup.”

Rovers travelled to Cardiff on February 24 2002 deep in Premier League relegation trouble and with their cup final opponents Spurs thought of as hot favourites to lift the trophy.

Skipper Garry Flitcroft, midfield maestro Tugay and defensive stalwart Craig Short were all ruled out through suspension as Graeme Souness’s newly promoted side were written off by most of the footballing world.

Ninety minutes later though, it was the blue and white army who were left in full voice as a goal in each half from Jansen and Andy Cole secured the club their first major silverware since lifting the Premier League trophy in 1995.

“Nothing was expected of us,” said Jansen. “I remember when we beat Arsenal in the quarter final to set up a two-legged semi final against lower league Sheffield Wednesday, it was thought then we would reach the final.

“But that was all that was expected of us. Everyone outside of the club thought Tottenham would be too strong for us and it was as though some thought we were going there just to make up the numbers.

“We took the game to them straight away though and managed to take the lead relatively early. That settled us down and just increased the pressure on them.

“I think the expectation thing helped us. There were few nerves around the squad because we were not expected to win. It gave us the chance to go out there and play our game.

“The atmosphere was incredible. I think it was the first final to be played with the roof on and, with about 78,000 people in the ground, it was a real noise.

“People ask me if I regret the fact it was not at Wembley. I don’t. I had played at Wembley before and no one can grumble at experiencing what we all experienced at Cardiff that afternoon.”

It was Jansen himself who got the ball rolling for the under dogs on 25 minutes as he pounced on a loose ball to drill a finish under Spurs keeper Neil Sullivan from 10 yards.

Christian Ziege levelled just eight minutes later and, after a string of stunning saves from Rovers stopper Brad Friedel, Andy Cole hit the winner on 69 minutes after Jansen’s tireless approach play.

“I went up for a flick on and the ball found its way to Keith Gillespie,” said Jansen. “He had a shot deflected off someone and the ball fell to me and fortunately I converted.

“Everyone talks about Brad Friedel’s performance in that final and , as usual, he was brilliant for us. But everyone was brilliant for us on the day and that is why we won the game.

“Mark Hughes played in an unusual central midfield role and he was very, very effective for us. It was just an all round team performance.”

Rovers followed their Worthington Cup win with a strong end to their Premier League campaign as Souness’s men made sure their Premier League return was not brief.

Jansen said: “The whole team went to a reception in Cardiff after the game. Then I stayed in Cardiff and enjoyed the evening with a few friends and family.

“We had to back in for training at midday on the Monday though so the celebrations didn’t last long. We still had a lot of work to do in the league.

“The cup final win actually helped us in the Premier League. We were suddenly a team full of confidence and with momentum and the results showed that.”