Dave Beasant opposing defences could never relax when he had the ball. Beasant won two caps for England, and went to the 1990 World Cup as a late replacement when third-choice keeper David Seaman suffered a hand injury. Wimbledon also did well in the league after their promotion in 1986, going top of the First Division in early September before finishing sixth at the end of the 1986–87 season. They finished seventh in the cup winning campaign a year later. However, the 1988 FA Cup final was the last game that Beasant played for Wimbledon. A month later he was sold to
2012 Football League Cup Final they went ahead in the seventh minute after an own-goal from Palace defender Gardner, which levelled the aggregate score at 1–1. Palace were reduced to ten men in the second half when Paddy McCarthy was sent-off. Despite their numerical advantage Cardiff were unable to a second goal during the 90 minutes and extra-time and the tie went to a penalty shoot-out. Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton saved two penalties as Cardiff won the shoot-out 3–1 to progress to their first League Cup final. Liverpool entered the competition in the second round, as one of the twelve teams from the Premier League