'If Liverpool didn't have Gerrard that day, we would have won the final comfortably': Dean Ashton insists West Ham could have lifted the FA Cup instead of the Reds in 2006, as he rues the legend's heroics in thrilling final

Dean Ashton believes West Ham would have 'comfortably' won the FA Cup in 2006 instead of Liverpool if Steven Gerrard hadn't been playing.

The clash at the Millennium Stadium is still widely viewed as one of the greatest in the rich history of the competition, with the Reds lifting the trophy after a thriller.

With the score locked at 3-3 at the end of extra-time, a penalty shootout decided who would clinch the silverware - and Anton Ferdinand's decisive effort was saved.

Dean Ashton says West Ham would have won the 2006 FA Cup if Steven Gerrard didn't play

Gerrard scored twice in the thrilling final, and also converted his penalty in the shootout

That saw Liverpool crowned the champions, although they owed much to the heroics from Gerrard, who scored twice in normal time and converted his spot-kick.