The new decade began with Chelsea achieving the League and FA Cup double for the first time. After the sponsorship deal with E-on expired, a new arrangement with an American brewer was negotiated, and the competition was styled "The FA Cup with Budweiser" from 2012.
Portsmouth, bankrupt and relegated in last place with a nine-point penalty defied the odds to reach their second final in three years under the guidance of Avram Grant, formerly of Chelsea. The team wore a smart strip of white and burgundy trimmed with pink, a reference to their earliest colours but were unable to match a confident Chelsea team, who struck the woodwork five times in the first half.
In the second half Chelsea's Drogba scored what would prove the winner just moments after Boateng's penalty was saved by Cech. Lampard then missed an opportunity to put the game out of reach when he missed a penalty but they finished comfortable winners, recording their first ever League and Cup double.
Due to the European Champions League final being played at Wembley at the end of the month and the need to leave a break before the European Championship qualifiers, the FA Cup final was played on the same day as a full programme of Premier League matches for the first time.
Manchester City's expensive team dominated with some deft play while Stoke struggled to produce the form that had brought them to the final. In the end a goal by Yaya Toure, lashed home from ten yards, was enough to end Manchester City's 35-year spell without a major trophy.
In order to provide a clear four-week break before the Euro 2012 finals in June, the final was played on the same day as the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures with a 5.15 kickoff, further devaluing its importance.
2-0 up, Chelsea were well in control until Andy Carroll pulled one back in the 64th minute leading to a determined assault by a revitalised Liverpool. Carroll had a header palmed away brilliantly by Petr Čech from under the bar in with nine minutes left, replays later showing the whole of the ball had just failed to cross the line.
On the morning of the final, the newspapers carried stories that City's manager Roberto Mancini was about to be replaced, leading to a furious response from the Italian aimed at Manchester City's officials. Whether or not this affected his team is unclear but Wigan refused to be overawed by their highly paid opponents and were worthy winners, the decisive goal coming moments before the final whistle and extra time. For the chairman, Dave Whelan, the result held even greater significance than Wigan's first major trophy. A broken leg in the 1960 cup final ended his professional career.
