Ben Foster emerged the hero as Tottenham capitulated in the penalty shoot-out after a goalless Carling Cup final at Wembley, allowing United to add another piece of silverware to the Club World Cup they won in Japan last December.

United are now seven points clear in the Barclays Premier League, with a game in hand, and success in both the FA Cup and the Champions League would enable Ferguson's team to eclipse any previous single-season achievement in the English game.

However, while the Scot knows it can be done, he feels the odds remain on his side coming a cropper somewhere along the line.

"It would be great to think we could do it, 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.

"I won't get carried away with it and the rest of the players will keep their feet on the ground.

"The best thing we can do is gather ourselves, energise ourselves for Newcastle on Wednesday, which will be a very difficult game for us, and go from there, taking it one step at a time."

United found themselves with a new hero in Foster, who was making only his seventh appearance for the Red Devils despite joining the Old Trafford outfit almost four years ago.

Since then Foster has enjoyed two spells on loan at Watford, then a season out recovering from a second cruciate knee ligament injury.

Through it all, Ferguson has insisted Foster remains England's best bet as a long-term goalkeeping replacement for David James.

And, with Fabio Capello watching from the stands, the 25-year-old proved why his manager has so much faith in him.

"The future is his," said Ferguson.

"The present belongs to Edwin van der Sar, that's obvious.

"But, given that experience in a final, it strengthens my belief Ben will be England's goalkeeper for the next number of years.

"He is a very strong character. He has to be to have come through two cruciate knee injuries. It takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice to get through that and recover to do what he did today.

"It is difficult to keep them all patient. But there's no other way."

In truth, until Cristiano Ronaldo struck a post in the final minute, there was little to excite either set of supporters.

Referee Chris Foy had already booked Ronaldo for diving under Ledley King's challenge.

It was the second successive weekend the FIFA World Player of the Year had suffered such a fate - and Ferguson was not happy.

"It was a ridiculous booking," he said.

"I mean, it's a penalty kick. But I don't mind that because the referee has a decision to make.

"But to book him is too easy an option. And he couldn't book him quick enough because it's Ronaldo."

However, Ferguson did concede United were lucky not to finish the game following John O'Shea's woeful tackle on Luka Modric after the Irishman had been booked.

On this occasion, Foy took no action.

"He could have gone," said Ferguson.

"The first booking was soft but he was late in the second challenge.

"But O'Shea is the type of player who never gets booked. He reads the game. And I think the referee, because it is a final, has delayed his reaction and given a throw-in."