The iPod hero! Foster watches Spurs on video moments before shoot-out glory

carling Cup hero Ben Foster has revealed how an iPod helped him win the first trophy of his career as Manchester United beat Tottenham in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley.

United goalkeeper Foster saved a crucial spot-kick from Tottenham youngster Jamie O’Hara to set Sir Alex Ferguson’s team up for victory at the end of a dire final.

Afterwards the 26-year-old revealed how he was able to study O’Hara’s spot-kick technique on the Wembley pitch minutes before the shootout began.

Manchester United hero Ben Foster says he watched videos of Spurs plays taking penalties on an iPod prior to the Wembley shoot-out

Foster said: ‘Just before the shoot-out I was looking at an iPod with goalkeeping coach Eric Steele and it contained images of Tottenham’s players taking penalties.

‘They told me for Jamie O’Hara that I should stand up and be strong and he would probably go the way he did.

'I had done a lot of research before, but this is an innovation we have brought in at the club.’

Sportsmail’s refereeing expert Graham Poll cast doubt on the legality of using the iPod technology but said it had the potential to exploit a loophole in the laws which should be referred to FIFA.

The FA plan to clarify with FIFA whether or not any offence may have been committed.

Foster made crucial saves from Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent to ensure United reached a penalty shootout.

Foster then saved O’Hara’s opening kick and, after David Bentley missed for Spurs, Anderson’s strike secured the trophy for United.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: ‘We would have lost without Ben Foster.

'He’s made some terrific saves for us.

Foster celebrates after his penalty save from Jamie O'Hara helped united to their second trophy of the season

‘Tottenham probably had the best chances of the match but they didn’t manage to score.’

Foster is in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford after two knee injuries and a broken finger robbed him of his chance to oust current No 1 Edwin van der Sar.

Ferguson added: ‘Ben is the future but Edwin is the present.

'I’m sure that Ben will go on to be England’s regular goalkeeper if he can steer clear of injuries.

‘It takes a lot of mental strength to come back from cruciate knee injuries and you have to have something special inside you to do that.’

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder O'Hara was distraught after his peanlty was saved by Foster

United added the Carling Cup to the World Club Cup they won in December but Fergie doubts they can complete the quintuple by adding the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

‘It would be great to think we could, but my experience says we could go to Fulham next weekend, there will be a deflected shot off someone’s backside and we’re out of the FA Cup,’ he said.

Tottenham failed to defend the trophy they won last season, but manager Harry Redknapp said: ‘We have played the best team in Europe and they have a big chance of winning the lot.

‘They are the team to beat. They have a fantastic squad, as they showed.

'Ben Foster was the difference. He was the busier goalkeeper.’

O’Hara left Wembley in tears, just as he did last season after being left out of the team, and Redknapp said: ‘He was the first to volunteer to take a penalty.

'He fancied it but the keeper made a great save.’

The one disappointment for United was a booking for Cristiano Ronaldo for diving.

Ferguson added: ‘It was ridiculous and it should have been a penalty.’