STARS from Rovers' past joined in the celebrations of the glorious Worthington Cup triumph and were quick to heap praise on Graeme Souness and his players.

And Matt Woods, a player in the last Rovers side to play in a major final in 1960, claimed the victory was pay back time for the disappointment of his big day.

"Rovers had their luck but they deserved to win in the end," he said. "We had no luck when we went down to Wembley and so it was time we had some.

"I said to my son when Poyet hit the bar that it was going to be Rovers' Cup and I am delighted." Mick McGrath was also in that 1960 side and he hailed the whole side. "I suppose Spurs were the favourites but this was a great all round team performance.

"I was very impressed with Mark Hughes and Tiny Taylor. He seemed to stroll through the game without a care in the world.

"Brad Friedel had one of those games where he kept everything out. I am hugely delighted. It was marvellous stuff and I am very pleased for the whole team."

Mike Newell enjoyed the best years of his career at Ewood Park and he was especially delighted for two of his former colleagues.

"It was great for Tony Parkes and Henning Berg and it was lovely to see Tony lead them out," he said. "He also led us out when we won the play-offs so maybe he is a lucky charm."

The chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association Gordon Taylor played for Rovers in the 1970s and was at the Millennium Stadium. He said: "It is wonderful for the town and it is wonderful for the club.

"I really believe this could be a springboard for the rest of the season. I certainly hope so."

Rovers' last cup-winning captain Glenn Keeley lifted the Full Members Cup back in 1987 and he was also in Cardiff.

"Coley's goal was absolutely fantastic. Only two players could score a goal like that, Michael Owen and Andy Cole. Brad Friedel was rightly named man of the match but I thought Cole was awesome," he said. Mick "Baz" Rathbone, who spent a decade with the club, thought the match was a classic final. "It was an excellent game and most finals don't turn out like that," he said. "I am really pleased for Rovers and this will act as a big boost for them for the rest of the season and the really important games still to come."

On a day full of Rovers heroes, Damien Duff was praised for putting in one of his most disciplined performances in a Blackburn Rovers shirt by former star Mark Patterson.

He said: "Duff showed the right temperament against Taricco. He kept him on the back foot, ran at him and kept him in his own half. He showed he was not scared of him."