WHAT a difference a 'Cole' makes! After months of firing blanks up front, Rovers transformed themselves into deadly assassins as Sheffield Wednesday became the victims of a classic hit and run.

And the man staring down the barrel was 'goal-king' Andy Cole -- Blackburn's new lethal weapon.

Cole's debut goal following his club record move from Manchester United ultimately tipped the balance in this often frenetic semi-final first leg as Rovers edged a step nearer their first major Cup final in 42 years.

And, judging by the way he hungrily devoured his chance, the 30-year-old hitman is clearly Hell-bent on boosting his World Cup dreams with a trip to Cardiff next month.

How many times have we previously seen Rovers play well this season only to trudge away at the end of the game with nothing to show for their efforts?

Last night, however, they coughed and spluttered their way through this contest but still disappeared back up the M1 with a precious one-goal lead to take into the second leg at Ewood in a fortnight's time.

The difference this time was the predatory instincts of Cole and fellow goalscorer Craig Hignett.

There was nothing particularly special about either of their first half goals -- both wonderfully created by Damien Duff -- other than they were masterpieces of the striker's art.

But Hignett was quick to identify afterwards exactly what qualities Cole has already added to Rovers' game during his brief tenure with the club.

"Andy's brought movement and pace but, above all that, he's a poacher, as you've seen tonight because he gets goals in the six yard box, and that's something we've been lacking all season -- someone to get in there and get the ugly goals," said Hignett.

"Due to his lack of action, it could still take him four or five games to get his match sharpness back.

"But he's a good trainer and he's looked sharp in training anyway.

"And, once the lads get to know his runs and how he plays, I'm sure he'll be a massive, massive plus for this football club."

If Rovers plan to maximise Cole's goalscoring qualities to the full, however, then they'll have to shape a damn sight better than this.

Duff's two assists aside, the service to the frontmen here was woeful at times as Rovers got dragged into a physical battle and the former Newcastle star became gradually more and more frustrated as the night wore on.

"A lot of the time he was isolated, especially in the second half, because we didn't play well," confessed Hignett.

"We just lumped it, really, and got caught playing the way they did.

"So it's hard for a striker if he's not getting the service because you can be frozen out of the game for long periods.

"And that's something we'll, obviously, have to work on."

With Matt Jansen and Garry Flitcroft both deemed not fit enough to start, Souness was forced to shuffle his pack but it soon became apparent the overall balance wasn't right.

It was only once veteran striker Mark Hughes was summoned from the bench to add some much-needed steel alongside Cole in the frontline, that Rovers began to look threatening.

But even then, that failed to paper over the fact they looked increasingly edgy at the back.

And, from having the game wrapped up at 2-0, the mass army of visiting fans were then left chewing their fingernails at the death.

Thankfully, though, for all Wednesday's honest endeavour on the night, they clearly lacked quality in the final third.

But had it been a Premiership side bearing down on Brad Friedel's goal with alarming regularity in a dreadful second half, then there's no question the punishment would have been more severe.

Rovers started sluggishly and they nearly paid a heavy price by conceding a goal within the opening 30 seconds.

Pablo Bonvin outsmarted John Curtis before whipping over a peach of a cross for Paul McLaren at the far post but Friedel somehow palmed his effort over the bar.

Gradually, though, the visitors began to wake from their slumber and they broke the deadlock on 28 minutes with a classic counterattack of their own.

Tugay seized onto a defensive clearance from David Dunn deep in his own half before striding purposefully through the middle and releasing Duff on the left.

The Irishman wingman then tamed the ball with his first touch before looking up and bending a brilliant cross between keeper Kevin Pressman and the Wednesday defence for Hignett to smash home emphatically at the far post.

However, the moment all Rovers fans were truly waiting for then arrived 12 minutes later.

This time Dunn sent Duff scampering away with a perfectly-weighted pass and the winger's sumptuous centre was gleefully buried by Cole in typically predatory style.

At that point, Wednesday looked down and out but former Wimbledon striker Efan Ekoku had other ideas.

Sheer persistence from Phil O'Donnell saw him charge down Curtis's attempted clearance on the left in the 52nd minute and his low cross from the by-line was expertly tucked away by the gangly Nigerian. Game on!

With a fervent home crowd behind them, the Owls suddenly discovered the belief necessary to go for the jugular.

Alan Quinn -- a constant menace down the left all night -- wriggled free before crossing for Bonvin but he fired over off balance.

And the hapless Wednesday striker then suffered even further embarrass when he burst through the middle 60 seconds later only to drag his shot wide of the left-hand upright.

With Rovers' defence now creaking under the aerial bombardment, Friedel was forced to make another world class stop to keep out Ekoku's goal-bound header.

But, in a rare breakaway by the visitors, Pressman then denied Duff after Cole's shot had rebounded to the winger off a defender.

When the final whistle finally came, the relief was etched on every one of the visitors' faces.

Now Rovers must be clear favourites to finish the job off at Ewood in a fortnight's time.

Judging by the way the season has gone, however, there could still be a few twists to this tale yet.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 ROVERS 2

Ekoku 52 Hignett 28, Cole 40

Attendance...30,883

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