Andy Cole may have been taught at Manchester United to treat the League Cup with a snobbish disdain but at Blackburn Rovers he is quickly learning a healthy appreciation for this beleaguered old competition.
It may not have enticed any envious glances from his former Old Trafford colleagues last night, but Cole's first goal for his new employers could be the deciding factor in Blackburn reaching their first major showpiece event since the 1960 FA Cup final.
Making his second start since his £8 million transfer to Ewood Park, Cole responded by scoring Blackburn's second goal in a win that will make the Premiership side overwhelming favourites to progress to the Millennium Stadium on February 24th.
Had Paul McLaren been more clinical with a free header inside the six-yard area from Pablo Bonvin's centre, Wednesday would have been ahead before a minute had elapsed on the referee Andy D'Urso's stopwatch. Instead, Brad Friedel tipped over for a corner.
On 28 minutes it was decisive. Tugay Kerimoglu linked up with Damien Duff on the left and the Republic of Ireland international, whose form this season has elevated him behind only Ryan Giggs as the finest left-sided player in English football, sent an inviting low centre across goal. The ball eluded Cole, loitering with intent in front of the Wednesday goal, but Craig Hignett arrived at the far post to dispatch a first-time finish beyond Kevin Pressman.
When Cole got his first sight of goal, five minutes before half-time, he was not so charitable. Again Tugay fed Duff and again his cross was exemplary. Cole had timed his run to perfection and with one touch from his outstretched right boot he had opened his Blackburn account.
Yet within six minutes of the restart Alan Quinn crossed for Efan Ekoku to apply the finishing touch from six yards and keep the tie alive.
Guardian Service
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Pressman, Haslam, Bromby (Morrison 83), Westwood, Geary, O'Donnell (Hinchcliffe 65), McLaren, Hamshaw, Quinn, Ekoku, Bonvin (Crane 65). Subs Not Used: Stringer, Maddix. Booked: Ekoku. Goals: Ekoku 52.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Bjornebye, Curtis, Short, Taylor, Dunn, Tugay, Duff, Mahon (Hughes 36), Hignett (Gillespie 71), Cole. Subs Not Used: Kelly, Jansen, Johansson. Booked: Dunn, Curtis. Goals: Hignett 28, Cole 39.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).
