Carling Cup glory for Spurs !!

Jonathan Woodgate headed home an extra-time winner as Tottenham deservedly triumphed in the Carling Cup final against Chelsea.

The centre-back was first to reach a Jermaine Jenas free-kick in the 94th minute, with Petr Cech saving his initial effort before the ball rebounded straight back off the former Middlesbrough player and into the back of the net.

Spurs were much the brighter in the opening half, but fell behind when Didier Drogba deceived Paul Robinson with a low free-kick from outside the box in the 39th minute.

Juande Ramos' men continued to battle after the break and were handed the chance to level 20 minutes from time when the assistant referee ruled Wayne Bridge had handled Aaron Lennon's cross in the box under pressure from Tom Huddlestone.

Dimitar Berbatov stepped up to send Cech the wrong way and the match into extra-time, with Woodgate then securing Spurs' first trophy since they lifted the League Cup back in 1999 and a place in next season's Uefa Cup.

Tottenham's supremacy began from the kick-off when Chelsea full-back Juliano Belletti gave the ball straight to Robbie Keane.

The Irishman couldn't believe his luck but his shot was deflected to safety by John Terry, selected alongside Frank Lampard in the starting XI.

In the ninth minute Spurs hit the crossbar when Lennon's corner was met by the head of Pascal Chimbonda at the far post. Fortunately for Chelsea, the ball dropped onto the top of the bar and out to safety.

Seconds later it was the turn of Berbatov to squander a gilt-edged opportunity when he headed Keane's cross wide of the target from six yards.

Tottenham continued to remain in the ascendancy and in the 27th minute Steed Malbranque brought a fine diving save from Cech when he tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area.

Chelsea, in contrast, had failed to find their normal free-flowing football but Tottenham's inability to find some reward for their control eventually let Avram Grant's side seize back the initiative.

The warning signs were there for Spurs when Didier Zokora brought down Shaun Wright-Phillips on the edge of the penalty area in the 33rd minute.

Drogba's free-kick was a foot wide of the target but when Zokora fouled his Ivory Coast team-mate four minutes later, the misdemeanour had major implications for Ramos' side.

Firstly, Zokora was booked by referee Mark Halsey but the more lethal punishment was to follow when Drogba's free-kick found the back of the net with goalkeeper Robinson completely wrong-footed.

Tottenham's response was immediate when Berbatov flicked the ball on to Keane to shoot straight at Cech.

Chelsea continued to look comfortable after the re-start and although Tottenham raised their game it took a fine stop from captain Ledley King to prevent Nicolas Anelka from increasing their lead in the 65th minute.

But Tottenham found a way back into the game when Bridge was adjudged to have handled with Bulgarian striker Berbatov stepping up to send Cech the wrong way and keep Tottenham's dreams alive.

Spurs were now inspired and they should have gone in front in the 80th minute when Keane sent Zokora clean through with just Cech to beat, but the Chelsea 'keeper saved Zokora's first effort with his face and the Ivory Coast midfielder then blasted the follow-up high and wide.

Grant was clearly concerned by Tottenham's resurgence and he had every right to be especially when Berbatov brought another stunning save from Cech in the 84th minute.

Chelsea were now hanging on like a punch-drunk boxer in the final rounds but Spurs could not find the knockout salvo.

But Ramos clinched his first trophy as Spurs manager when Anelka fouled Lennon in the Chelsea half just four minutes into extra-time.

Woodgate, signed from Boro in the January transfer window for £8million, glanced the free-kick from Jenas onto Cech's gloves and the ball then rebounded off the Spurs defender and into the net.

Robinson justified his selection with seven minutes remaining when he saved superbly to deny Chelsea substitute Salomon Kalou.

Spurs had to withstand some more anxious moments as Chelsea threw everyone forward in an attempt to equalise but the final whistle signalled a fabulous triumph for Ramos who had won his first silverware just four months after taking over from Martin Jol.

Ferguson unhappy at gap !!

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his disappointment at slipping five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

United's shock loss to rivals Manchester City last weekend saw The Gunners extend their lead at the summit of the table with victory over Blackburn Rovers.

With 12 games of the current campaign still remaining, Ferguson is convinced that there is still time to overhaul Arsene Wenger's side and retain their championship crown.

But he has admitted that Arsenal's growing improvement is a concern, while conceding that events have not gone to plan up until this stage of the season.

"I am not happy we are five points behind them," Ferguson said.

"You want to be leading at this stage of the campaign.

"However, I have to say Arsenal are looking more compact and more solid than they were last season."

Ferguson also hinted that he may rotate his starting XI for Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie against Wenger's men.

"You cannot (keep the same side) in every game. That is why clubs have squads of 22 players," he continued.

"You cannot go back to the days when Liverpool won the league with only 14 players to call on."

Ferguson went on to express his belief that the clashes between his side and Arsenal lack the aggressive and fiery edge they used to demonstrate.

"We both have different teams today and as a result it is now less fractious," he concluded.

Gerrard up for the fight ...

Steven Gerrard believes Sunday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea will help Liverpool in the 'big challenge' to finish fourth in the Premier League this season.

Rafa Benitez's side have struggled this campaign after being tipped as genuine title contenders and Liverpool now face a battle to finish in the top four.

However, Liverpool earned a hard-fought point at Stamford Bridge to maintain their hopes of a place in the UEFA Champions League next term.

And captain Gerrard insists the level of improved performance must be maintained as the Reds battle it out with Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City for a place in Europe's top club competition.

"There are definitely a lot of positives to take out of this (Chelsea) game. It was definitely a big improvement on how we've played of late," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.

"We realise now that we're facing a big challenge to finish in the top four and we've got to forget about the title and focus on fighting for fourth place.

"There are a lot of teams around us who are in good form and playing well so it's important that we don't let our standards drop."

And Gerrard has echoed the sentiments of his Liverpool team-mate Jose Reina by suggesting that the Reds struck the correct balance between attack and defence at Stamford Bridge.

"I think we controlled the majority of this game and it felt as if we could have snatched it," Gerrard added.

"I just thought we lacked that cutting edge in the final third but I can't fault many other things because it was a good performance.

"We looked more solid defensively and I thought we were the better side over the 90 minutes and if anyone was going to win it was us."

United winger planning to stay with club ..

Cristiano Ronaldo plans to stay at Old Trafford for another five to 10 years and cement his place in Manchester United folklore.

The Portuguese winger has made a huge impact at United since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 but he is determined to improve further.

Ronaldo has no intention of leaving United as he has a great affection for the club, and is hoping to become one of their greatest ever players.

"I have been here five years and I want to be part of the history of the club," he explained.

"I want to stay here more years because I love the club.

"I may stay another five years, 10 years, I don't know.

"You never know what will happen but here people recognise me for my job, for the goals and for my personality."

Ronaldo is excited about playing in Sunday's Manchester derby, which comes in the week of the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

Both sides will wear a special kit without sponsors or logos and Ronaldo is not prepared to part with his.

He said: "I have already spoken to the kit manager and told him I want one of the shirts to keep.

Portuguese Winger -- Number 7 .. Chk this out

"I won't be exchanging it with anyone. I want to keep it and I am excited about the game.

"You see that team of 50 years ago and it's amazing - a great team with great spirit.

"Now there are better cameras, better television, and I want to be recognised maybe in 50 years as a great player."

United are still in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, while they are just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Ronaldo is hungry for silverware and has urged his team-mates to focus on all three competitions.

He said: "There is a great chance we can win everything. Manchester United have to think that because we have that opportunity every season."

Theo Walcott proves his England quality ..

There is a persuasive argument to say that Theo Walcott, rather like the Titanic, should never have left Southampton.

In the two years since Walcott gave up Championship football at St Mary's, he has started just 26 competitive matches and risked trading life as a fast-growing fish in a small pond for that of a minnow within the reservoir of talent at Arsenal.

His potential, though, has still been enough to catch the eye of England manager Fabio Capello and last night, on his first return to Southampton, he produced a reminder of why the Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, was prepared to pay £12 million for his talents.

True, the England Under-21 team were already leading the Republic of Ireland by two goals, but the way Walcott opened his body and side-footed the ball beyond goalkeeper Darren Randolph was still rather reminiscent of his idol, Thierry Henry.

It also sealed a 3-0 win which enhanced England's position at the top of the European Championship Group Three qualifying table, and virtually guaranteed their place in a play-off match to reach the finals in Sweden next year. A point in the final game against Portugal would guarantee winning the group. "We feel this will get us there," manager Stuart Pearce said.

Walcott has played in all seven qualifiers for Pearce and, although this was his first goal in this campaign, the challenge now is to compliment his place in the Under-21 team with regular football at Arsenal. Walcott said: "I don't pay any attention [to criticism]. The only ones I listen to are my family and friends. I just get on with my football and try and perform in every game."

Capello's right-hand man, Franco Baldini, was at St Mary's and introduced himself to the players. "Straight away, they know there is a link there to the seniors - there will be a few performances worth a recommendation," Pearce said.

Against a limited Irish team, the theory was that Aaron Lennon and James Milner would offer support from the wide positions. In practice, it took England time to find any real cutting edge, with many of the best first-half moments originating from Lennon's right wing. There was a greater sense of urgency after the interval and the goals all arrived within an 18-minute period.

In the 60th minute, Milner, who was winning his 36th under-21 cap, shaped to cross and his ball glanced off Ireland defender Stephen O'Halloran and into the net. There was less luck about England's second as Milner collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired a precise shot beyond Randolph.

It was then left for Walcott to apply the finishing touch to a highly satisfactory night for both Pearce and Capello.