AN emotional Graeme Souness last night hailed his Worthington Cup heroes - and backed them to win their fight for Premiership survival.

Even though he has won every honour in the book in his illustrious career, Souness choked back the tears as he led Rovers to their first major cup final victory since 1928 - and into Europe next season.

"We haven't had a great deal of luck this year but I hope this is the turning point for us," said the elated manager who is now confident his side will get the much-needed points to win their battle against the drop.

And he enjoyed it even more as his side rewrote Ewood folklore by upsetting the odds to clinch the victory against favourites Tottenham.

"I am absolutely delighted. We came here as everyone's underdogs which was a new experience for me.

"I do not have the words to describe what I am feeling. My team played exceptionally well.

"I thought we had the better chances, the better of the play and I think we edged it.

"We rode our luck towards the end but I don't think we were second to Tottenham today, we were better than them.

"It is always nice to win at the best of times but nice for me to win as underdog. It has never happened to me before.

"It is a unique feeling."

Souness hasn't shied away from criticising referees in recent weeks but he felt Graham Poll's refusal to give a penalty when Teddy Sheringham and Nils-Eric Johansson connected in the area in the closing stages was spot on.

"It was not a penalty as the referee pointed out afterwards," he laughed.

The Ewood chief also defended his matchwinner Andy Cole against the cricitism that he would have been fired up against Glenn Hoddle - the man who as England manager said he needed four or five chances to score one goal.

"He is above all that. He doesn't need that," he said.

"Andy's arrival has helped us in winning this trophy and I believe his goals will make a difference at the end of the season.

"He is a goal getter. Sometimes the best judge of players is the other players and I would think the Tottenham players wouldn't have enjoyed playing against Andy Cole. You just have to look at his track record. He is a top goal scorer and is up there with anybody you could name, past or present."

Souness also had words of praise for goalkeeper Brad Friedel - the man of the match with three world class saves.

"There isn't another Premier League keeper I would swap him for. We won the cup at Galatasaray with him and he was the difference there, arguably he has been the difference here.

"He has top goalkeeping qualities, he is an athlete, he has an attitude to sport that I think is quite common in America and he is a nice fella.

"Matt Jansen also had an excellent game although he was feeling his groin at half time. Yordi did well in a different way and he is someone you would not enjoy playing against."

And he also singled out his veteran striker Mark Hughes.

The Welsh manager enjoyed playing on his home turf although was in the more unaccustomed role of a midfielder in the absence of the suspended Tugay and Garry Flitcroft.

"Mark Hughes is minging in training, he never puts two passes together," joked the Rovers boss, using one of his favourite phrases.

"He was the exact opposite today he never gave the ball away.

"I don't think anybody can put their hand on their heart and say they enjoyed playing against Mark Hughes.

"He has given me a dilemma for next week but it is great for him, in his arena. He might play in another cup final but the chances are he won't so what a great way to go out."