2001–02 Football League Cup

The 2001–02 Football League Cup (known as the Worthington Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 42nd staging of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs.

The competition began on 20 August 2001, and ended with the final on 26 February 2002 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as Wembley Stadium had been closed for a rebuild.

The tournament was won by Blackburn Rovers, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 in the final, thanks to single strikes from Matt Jansen and Andy Cole, sandwiched by an equaliser from Christian Ziege. Blackburn had only just returned to the Premier League at the beginning of the season after relegation several years earlier.

First round

The 70 First, Second and Third Division clubs compete from the First Round, except Manchester City and Coventry. Each section is divided equally into a pot of seeded clubs and a pot of unseeded clubs. Clubs' rankings depend upon their finishing position in the 2000–01 season.

Second round

The 35 winners from the First Round joined the 13 Premier League, clubs not participating in European competition in the Second Round, plus Manchester City and Coventry (who received byes for their league position the previous season). Matches were played on 10–13 September.

Third round

The 25 winners from the Second Round joined the seven Premiership clubs participating in European competition in the Third Round. Matches were played on 8–10 October.

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
, -
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
!Date
, -
, 1, , Arsenal, , 4–0, , Manchester United, , 5 November 2001
, -
, 2, , Aston Villa, , 1–0, , Reading, , 10 October 2001
, -
, 3, , Blackburn Rovers, , 2–1 , , Middlesbrough, , 10 October 2001
, -
, 4, , Fulham, , 5–2, , Derby County, , 10 October 2001
, -
, 5, , Manchester City, , 6–0, , Birmingham City, , 10 October 2001
, -
, 6, , Sheffield Wednesday, , 2–2 {{{aet, , Crystal Palace, , 10 October 2001
, -
!colspan="5", Sheffield Wednesday won 3–1 on penalties
, -
, 7, , Barnsley, , 0–1, , Newcastle United, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 8, , Coventry City, , 0–2, , Chelsea, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 9, , Crewe Alexandra, , 2–3, , Ipswich Town, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 10, , Gillingham, , 0–2, , Southampton, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 11, , Leicester City, , 0–6, , Leeds United, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 12, , Liverpool, , 1–2 {{aet, , Grimsby Town, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 13, , Tranmere Rovers, , 0–4, , Tottenham Hotspur, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 14, , Watford, , 4–1, , Bradford City, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 15, , West Bromwich Albion, , 0–1, , Charlton Athletic, , 9 October 2001
, -
, 16, , Bolton Wanderers, , 1–0, , Nottingham Forest, , 8 October 2001

Fourth round

The matches were played on 27–29 November.

{{footballbox
, date=29 November 2001
, team1=Fulham
, score=1–2
, report=
, team2=Tottenham Hotspur
, goals1= Hayles {{goal, 45
, goals2= Rebrov {{goal, 15
Davies {{goal, 86
, stadium=Craven Cottage, London
, attendance=17,006
, referee=Mark Halsey
----
{{footballbox
, date=28 November 2001
, team1=Aston Villa
, score=0–1
, report=
, team2=Sheffield Wednesday
, goals1=
, goals2= Ekoku {{goal, 40
, stadium=Villa Park, Birmingham
, attendance=26,526
, referee=Clive Wilkes
----
{{footballbox
, date=28 November 2001
, team1=Blackburn Rovers
, score=2–0
, report=
, team2=Manchester City
, goals1=Johansson {{goal, 45
Johnson {{goal, 90
, goals2=
, stadium=Ewood Park, Blackburn
, attendance=17,907
, referee=Uriah Rennie
----
{{footballbox
, date=28 November 2001
, team1=Leeds United
, score=0–2
, report=
, team2=Chelsea
, goals1=
, goals2= Guðjohnsen {{goal, 59 {{goal, 80
, stadium=Elland Road, Leeds
, attendance=33,841
, referee=Jeff Winter
----
{{footballbox
, date=27 November 2001
, team1=Arsenal
, score=2–0
, report=
, team2=Grimsby Town
, goals1= Edu {{goal, 4
Wiltord {{goal, 74
, goals2=
, stadium=Highbury, London
, attendance=16,917
, referee= Dermot Gallagher
----
{{footballbox
, date=27 November 2001
, team1=Bolton Wanderers
, score=2–2 {{aet
6–5 p
, report=
, team2=Southampton
, goals1=Holdsworth {{goal, 55, pen.
Ricketts {{goal, 110
, goals2= Davies {{goal, 80
El Khalej {{goal, 111
, stadium=Reebok Stadium, Bolton
, attendance=8,404
, referee=Andy D'Urso
----
{{footballbox
, date=27 November 2001
, team1=Newcastle United
, score=4–1
, report=
, team2=Ipswich Town
, goals1=Robert {{goal, 18
Ameobi {{goal, 26
Shearer {{goal, 37 {{goal, 40
, goals2= Bent {{goal, 77
, stadium=St. James' Park, Newcastle
, attendance=32,576
, referee=Alan Wiley
----
{{footballbox
, date=26 November 2001
, team1=Watford
, score=3–2 {{aet
, report=
, team2=Charlton Athletic
, goals1=Vernazza {{goal, 17
Robinson {{goal, 60
Helguson {{goal, 99
, goals2=Brown {{goal, 43
Robinson {{goal, 90
, stadium=Vicarage Road, Watford
, attendance=12,621
, referee= Neale Barry

Fifth round

The four matches were played on 11–12 and 19 December.

{{footballbox
, date=19 December 2001
, team1=Sheffield Wednesday
, score=4–0
, report=
, team2=Watford
, goals1=Sibon {{goal, 40
Hamshaw {{goal, 73
O'Donnell {{goal, 89
Soltvedt {{goal, 90
, goals2=
, stadium= Hillsborough, Sheffield
, attendance=20,319
, referee=Andy Butler
----
{{footballbox
, date=12 December 2001
, team1=Chelsea
, score=1–0
, report=
, team2=Newcastle United
, goals1= Hasselbaink {{goal, 90
, goals2=
, stadium= Stamford Bridge, London
, attendance=27,613
, referee=David Elleray
----
{{footballbox
, date=11 December 2001
, team1=Blackburn Rovers
, score=4–0
, report=
, team2=Arsenal
, goals1= Jansen {{goal, 11 {{goal, 15 {{goal, 68
Hughes {{goal, 21
, goals2=
, stadium=Ewood Park, Blackburn
, attendance=13,278
, referee=Paul Durkin
----
{{footballbox
, date=11 December 2001
, team1=Tottenham Hotspur
, score=6–0
, report=
, team2=Bolton Wanderers
, goals1= Davies {{goal, 21
Ferdinand {{goal, 29 {{goal, 30 {{goal, 38
Barness {{goal, 79, o.g.
Iversen {{goal, 84
, goals2=
, stadium=White Hart Lane, London
, attendance=28,430
, referee=Graham Barber

Semi-finals

The semi-final draw was made in December 2001 after the conclusion of the quarter finals. Unlike the other rounds, the semi-final ties were played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The ties were played in the weeks beginning 7 and 21 January 2002.

First leg

{{footballbox
, date=8 January 2002
, time=19:45
, team1=Sheffield Wednesday
, score=1–2
, report=
, team2=Blackburn Rovers
, goals1= Ekoku {{goal, 52
, goals2= Hignett {{goal, 28
Cole {{goal, 39
, stadium= Hillsborough, Sheffield
, attendance=30,883
, referee=Andy D'Urso
----
{{footballbox
, date=9 January 2002
, time=20:05
, team1=Chelsea
, score=2–1
, report=
, team2=Tottenham Hotspur
, goals1= Hasselbaink {{goal, 10 {{goal, 77
, goals2=Ferdinand {{goal, 65
, stadium= Stamford Bridge, London
, attendance=37,264
, referee=Alan Wiley

Second leg

{{footballbox
, date=22 January 2002
, time=19:45
, team1=Blackburn Rovers
, score=4–2
, report=
, team2=Sheffield Wednesday
, goals1= Jansen {{goal, 35
Duff {{goal, 37
Cole {{goal, 82
Hignett {{goal, 88
, goals2= Ekoku {{goal, 59, pen.
Soltvedt {{goal, 85
, stadium=Ewood Park, Blackburn
, attendance=26,884
, referee= Mike Riley
''Blackburn Rovers won 6–3 on aggregate.''
----
{{footballbox
, date=23 January 2002
, time=20:05
, team1=Tottenham Hotspur
, score=5–1
, report=
, team2=Chelsea
, goals1= Iversen {{goal, 2
Sherwood {{goal, 33
Sheringham {{goal, 50
Davies {{goal, 76
Rebrov {{goal, 87
, goals2= Forssell {{goal, 90
, stadium=White Hart Lane, London
, attendance=36,100
, referee=Mark Halsey
''Tottenham Hotspur won 6–3 on aggregate''

Final

{{details, 2002 Football League Cup Final
The 2002 Worthington Cup Final was played on 24 February 2002 and was contested between Premier League teams Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Blackburn Rovers won the game 2–1.

{{footballbox
, date=24 February 2002
, time=14:00
, team1=Blackburn Rovers
, score=2–1
, team2=Tottenham Hotspur
, repor
(Report)
, goals1= Jansen {{goal, 25
Cole {{goal, 69
, goals2= Ziege {{goal, 33
, stadium=Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
, attendance=72,500
, referee=Graham Poll

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References

{{Reflist

External links

Official Carling Cup websiteCarling Cup
at bbc.co.uk
League Cup news, match reports and pictures
on Reuters.co.uk
Results on Soccerbase

{{Football League Cup seasons
{{2001-02 in English football
{{2001–02 in European football (UEFA)

{{DEFAULTSORT:2001-02 Football League Cup
EFL Cup seasons
Cup, 2001-02