Ben Foster admits Birmingham's stunning League Cup triumph against Arsenal gave him more satisfaction than his man-of-the-match performance for Manchester United in the final two years ago.

The goalkeeper is becoming something of a League Cup specialist after taking home a winners' medal from Wembley for the third successive season, but his two previous victories with United were simply a case of living up to expectations.

Foster had been United's hero when it beat Tottenham on penalties in the 2009 League Cup final and was an unused substitute as Sir Alex Ferguson's team retained the trophy against Aston Villa last season.

But helping Birmingham beat hot favorite Arsenal 2-1 in Sunday's final meant far more to England international Foster, whose series of fine saves kept the Blues in the match after Nikola Zigic's opener until Obafemi Martins snatched the last-minute winner.

"It's a great feeling. Today probably eclipses the other two because we were underdogs going into the game. It's a huge win," Foster said.

"To go into games like this with Manchester United you are expected to win but with a team like Birmingham it's against all odds really.

"It's a great achievement just to get here, but to win against a team like Arsenal is incredible. We kept plugging away and got what I think we deserved."

United boss Ferguson still believes Foster is the best English goalkeeper of this generation and his saves from Andrei Arshavin, Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner underlined the Scot's belief.

They were certainly a stark contrast to the nervous display from young Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, whose fumble gifted Martins the winner.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 03/01/2011 page22)