Yorke and Cole respond in style to crush Rotherham

Blackburn Rovers 4 Rotherham United

Rotherham may not offer the sort of challenge Blackburn face on a regular basis in the Premiership, but with Hakan Sukur waiting in the wings, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke responded in style last night to lead the Worthington Cup holders into a quarter-final tie at Wigan Athletic.

The Turkish striker, a free agent after leaving Parma recently, signed for Rovers hours before kick-off last night, a deal that will keep him at Ewood Park until the end of the season, longer, if Sukur responds as Graeme Souness, his former Galatasaray manager, expects. Yet Cole and Yorke wasted no time in reminding their manager that their predatory instincts still remain alive, taking only 16 minutes to have their names on the scoresheet.

David Thompson and Damien Duff – arguably as good a pair of out-and-out wingers as there is in the Premiership – started well and the latter's 11th-minute hanging cross found Yorke, who rose to guide the ball past the dive of the goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.

By the 16th minute Cole had effectively wrapped up the tie, playing a one-two with Yorke and advancing before lashing the ball home from 14 yards.

With Matt Jansen on their books and Corrado Grabbi still capable of cameo roles, Sukur joins a roster of strikers lacking nothing in depth or pedigree. "I have every confidence in Hakan," Souness said. "If he is anything like the player I worked with six years ago then we've done a very good bit of business. I believe that competition is healthy and I'll judge people on how they train and play on Saturdays."

Or Wednesdays. In the 39th minute Yorke claimed his sixth goal of the season after a terrific long strike from Thompson had thundered against the right-hand post. With the defence static, Yorke responded quickly to guide the ball home.

A comfortable win became a rout three minutes before the interval when Cole turned architect, threading the ball through for Duff whose shot hit the post before the Irishman regained his balance and converted his own rebound.

Cole and Yorke remained on the pitch until the 72nd minute, when they were replaced by Grabbi and yet another first-team striker Egil Ostenstad. Thompson came closest to adding to the tally, shooting across the face of goal from the right after Yorke and Cole had again caused panic at the back.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Kelly; Neill, Todd, Johansson, McEveley; Thompson, Tugay (Flitcroft, 61), Danns, Duff; Cole (Ostenstad, 72), Yorke (Grabbi, 72). Substitutes not used: Gillespie, Robinson.

Rotherham United (4-4-2): Pollitt; Scott, Swailes, McIntosh, Hurst; Sedgwick (Robins, 77), Daws, Garner, Monkhouse (Bryan, h-t); Lee, Barker (Warne, 77). Substitutes not used: Talbot, Gray.

Referee: M Messias (North Yorks).