Cole double brings end to Wigan's adventure

Wigan Athletic 0 Blackburn Rovers

The finishing of Andy Cole was the essential difference between the two sides as the Worthington Cup holders finally put an end to Wigan's giant-killing adventures in the competition.

Cole struck in each half to turn Rovers' extra class into a quarter-final victory in front of a ground record crowd of 16,922 for the Latics at their JJB stadium.

In the second half, Graeme Souness was also watching from the stand after being banished from the touch line following a confrontation with the fourth official.

The Blackburn manager, who has already served one touch line ban this season, said he had merely asked the assistant referee whether he was sure about a decision – he would say no more about the incident.

The Second Division side, with the scalps of West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City and Fulham already to their credit, were never disgraced, but they lacked anyone with the clinical instincts of Cole or the midfield vision of Tugay.

Blackburn had already gone close through David Thompson and through a Cole effort that skimmed off the outside of the post before they took the lead after 15 minutes. Tugay's perceptive through ball sprang the offside trap and Cole hammered his shot emphatically past John Filan.

Wigan worked hard to stop Blackburn imposing themselves on the tie after that, although Filan, the former Rovers' goalkeeper, had to save bravely at Dwight Yorke's feet to prevent them from extending their lead.

After the break, Wigan came out rejuvenated and started to attack Blackburn with the panache they had shown against their other Premiership opponents.

Stig Bjornebye had to head Scott Green's corner off his line and Nathan Ellington, with five goals so far in the Worthington Cup so far, troubled Rovers for a spell.

It was the Wigan substitute, Gary Teale, who went closest to grabbing an equaliser with a fierce shot that was pushed away by a diving Brad Friedel.

In the stand, Souness was able to sit back and relax a little when, after Filan had saved bravely at Cole's feet, a second goal put the issue and a place in the semi-finals beyond doubt.

Again a high quality pass was involved, this time from Thompson, filling in for the rested Damien Duff on the left. Cole skipped through the Athletic defence and planted his shot firmly past Filan to book a place in the last four.

"They were two great strikes and two great passes – and we were punished for them,'' said the Wigan manager, Paul Jewell.

"We had a go at them in the second half. We showed good determination and I couldn't have asked for anymore from the players.

"We were up against the holders who are a top quality Premiership side and we pushed them all the way. We haven't let ourselves down and it's been a great run for the club.''

Souness also paid tribute to Cole's finishing. "In the last three or four games Andy's been completely match fit,'' he said. "He's got all the sharpness back that's necessary to get goals at the top level.'' Souness also gave due credit to Wigan's efforts in the competition.

"You can see how Wigan have beaten Premiership teams in the past,'' he said. "The pitch is a great leveller, but we came here determined to do a job, and we did it.''

Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): Filan; Eaden, De Vos, Jackson, Baines; Green (Flynn, 71), Dinning, Jarrett, Kennedy (Teale, 61); Ellington, Roberts. Substitutes not used: Beasant (gk), Mitchell, Brecken

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Friedel; Neill, Short, Taylor, Bjornebye (Johansson, 81); Gillespie, Tugay, Flitcroft, Thompson; Cole (Jansen, 82), Yorke (Ostenstad, 82). Substitutes not used: Kelly (gk), Danns

Referee: Andy D'Urso