Three chances. One goal. One trophy.

Against Glenn Hoddle, whose criticism of his strike rate hung around his neck like an international noose, Andy Cole made a significant point in the Worthington Cup final as Blackburn won their first major cup in 74 years.

You can pick upon Cole's strike rate all you like, as Hoddle infamously did while England coach, but you cannot fault his goal haul or, indeed, his perfect sense of timing.

With underdogs Blackburn having been pegged back by a Tottenham side whose own profligacy in front of goal cost them victory in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Cole duly rose to the occasion.

There were many other heroes, of course. Most notably keeper Brad Friedel who pulled off a string of superb saves as Les Ferdinand and Gustavo Poyet came agonisingly close so many times, while Matt Jansen had put them ahead before Christian Ziege's equaliser.

And there was a real moment of late controversy as Spurs were denied a penalty when Teddy Sheringham, with whom Cole had distinctly frosty relations at Manchester United, went sprawling in the area.

However, Cole's fifth goal since his £7.5million signing from Old Trafford ultimately proved the key to Blackburn securing a hard-earned trophy and a place in Europe.

Their battle against relegation may continue. Indeed, it is ultimately more important to the club than this success.

However, while Arsene Wenger may not approve, Rovers still achieved a notable success against the odds, of which their late owner, Jack Walker, would have been rightly proud.

Under a closed roof for the first time in a major British cup final, there was a passionate, if rather surreal atmosphere and that was reflected in a competitive yet patchy opening spell.

While the backbone of Spurs' side was provided by six players aged over 30, Blackburn turned to Wales manager Mark Hughes - in his home stadium - at the age of 38 in their central midfield engine room.

Ziege curled an early shot over the bar but it was not until the 19th minute that the game really sparked into life.

Rather than Sheringham, Spurs' main creative influence was actually Poyet and it was his through-ball onto which Ferdinand raced as he beat the offside trap.

He appeared to have gone round keeper Friedel only for the American to stretch out one of his notoriously long arms and deflect the ball to safety.

It was a significant missed chance. Despite Spurs' possession, they were far too intricate in their build-up play and were duly punished as Blackburn struck on the counter attack.

Keith Gillespie's hopeful shot was hardly threatening but then it deflected off Ben Thatcher and into the path of Jansen, who spun instantly onto the loose ball and sent his shot underneath Neil Sullivan's body.

Sullivan made amends a few minutes later as he denied Damien Duff at full stretch, while Ben Thatcher's superb sliding tackle ensured Jansen could not capitalise on another rebound.

Tottenham had finally been stung into action though. Again, Poyet delivered the through-ball for Ferdinand but this time the former England international displayed all of his composure and experience in front of goal.

Rather than attempting the impossible from a tight angle, he adeptly cut back inside, sending Henning Berg flying past him, and nutmegged Nils-Eric Johansson to pick out the unmarked figure of Ziege at the far post.

The German international coolly equalised and almost returned the favour soon afterwards, only for Ferdinand to head his cross far too close to Friedel, while Sullivan's reflexes similarly denied Cole from close range.

Despite a lull at the start of the second half, the chances continued to come. Still, especially for Spurs, they mainly went begging.

Poyet was the next to bear down on goal only for his fierce shot to cannon off the angle of post and bar, while Friedel denied him soon afterwards with a flying save.

Blackburn were very much in it, however, with Gillespie and Duff raiding down the flanks, while David Dunn's workrate was exemplary in central midfield, while Jansen was a livewire up front.

Cole, meanwhile, blazed one chance over the bar but was not about to be denied forever and, with 22 minutes left, Blackburn were ahead again.

For all his promise, Ledley King was badly at fault amid wholescale uncertainty in the Spurs defence as he failed to head the ball clear and there was Cole lurking with intent to scoop the ball past Sullivan into the far corner.

While substitutes Jordi and Craig Hignett both went close, Blackburn certainly rode their luck towards the end.

Most notably, when Johansson seemingly brought down Sheringham with just three minutes left only for referee Graham Poll to wave away Spurs' strong penalty appeals.

Then, Friedel again denied Ferdinand, clutching onto his close-range header with relief.

While Cole had struck gold, Ferdinand's lacklustre finishing had proved to be Tottenham's undoing.

The irony may not have been lost on Hoddle, but it was Cole who had the last laugh. If revenge is a dish best served cold, then this was a feeling the striker had waited four years to savour.

Teams:

Blackburn: Friedel, Taylor, Berg, Johansson, Bjornebye, Gillespie (Hignett 77), Dunn, Hughes, Duff, Jansen (Yordi 74), Cole.

Subs Not Used: Miller, Curtis, Mahon.

Goals: Jansen 25, Cole 69.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Perry, King, Thatcher, Taricco (Davies 79), Anderton, Sherwood, Poyet (Iversen 84), Ziege, Sheringham, Ferdinand.

Subs Not Used: Keller, Rebrov, Gardner.

Booked: Sherwood, Taricco, Ziege.

Goals: Ziege 33.

Att: 72,500

Ref: G Poll (Tring).