Manchester City secured their fourth League Cup in a row under Pep Guardiola after Aymeric Laporte's 82nd-minute header was enough to prize away an elusive piece of silverware from a Tottenham Hotspur side who have gone 13 years without a trophy.
Despite dominating the game, there was a hint of controversy about the matchwinner, with Laporte perhaps fortunate to come out for the second half.
The French central defender stopped two clear Tottenham counter-attacks in the first half illegally, but was only carded for one.
Referee Paul Tierney was widely criticised by all members of the Sky Sports punditry team, with even former City defender Micah Richards conceding his old team were lucky to finish the half with 11 men.
Richards said: "The first one is a definite yellow card. He gets another one and he should be sent off. He’s fortunate to stay on the pitch."
Fellow pundit and former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp responded: " He’s very lucky, Micah. Very lucky."
Richards added: "He is very lucky, I have to say that, but sometimes in a game, you get a little bit of luck."
Redknapp and Richards were joined in the coverage by another ex-Spurs player in Michael Dawson, who expressed his frustration at the inconsistent officiating in the first half.
Dawson said: “Paul Tierney has had a couple of decisions, the minute after that Reguillion got booked - rightly so, it was a yellow card, but Laporte got away with one there. He should have been sent off, Micah.”
That was backed up by former Manchester United defender Gary Neville on co-commentary, who said in the first half the City man should have been booked twice.
Laporte then delivered the knockout blow to Spurs and Ryan Mason with eight minutes left on the clock when he headed home Kevin De Bruyne's set-piece delivery to seal yet another piece of silverware for Man City.
