Norwich, Millwall move closer

Cole on target as Blackburn wins 2-1 at Everton

LONDON (Reuters) -- Andy Cole scored his 10th goal in 18 appearances for Blackburn Rovers as Graeme Souness's side celebrated their English Premier League survival with a 2-1 win at Everton on Sunday.

The former Manchester United striker sealed Blackburn's 11th league win of the season when he pounced with a diving header in the 63rd minute after Damien Duff's volley was parried by Everton keeper Paul Gerrard.

League Cup winners Blackburn were able to play the match without fear of relegation after Saturday's results guaranteed their survival. The result moved them one place above Everton into 12th in the table.

They needed just nine minutes to go in front when Matt Jansen took advantage of some slack defending to rise unchallenged and head home from close range.

Jansen, Cole and Everton's Alan Stubbs were all cautioned as both sides went on the attack in a lively opening half hour.

Everton drew level six minutes after the interval when David Weir climbed above the Blackburn defence to head down for Nick Chadwick, who neatly back-heeled the ball into the net from three meters.

Cole ignored by England, claims Souness

Striker Andy Cole's bid to win back his place in the England squad for the World Cup starting next month has been undermined by a whispering campaign, his Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness claimed on Sunday.

"I have said it before and I will say it again: Andy Cole should be going to the World Cup," Souness told Sky Sports television after Blackburn's 2-1 English Premier League win at Everton.

"But I think he will not be going for non-footballing reasons. Someone has said something that has stopped him getting on that plane to the World Cup."

Cole reminded England manager Sven Goran Eriksson of his predatory qualities with an opportunistic winner in the Goodison Park clash.

Cole showed good positional sense to pounce with a diving header after Damien Duff's volley was blocked by Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard.

But the former Manchester United striker, who was also booked for an ugly challenge on Thomas Gravesen, said he thought there was little hope of him reclaiming his place in the national squad.

"I think there is no chance of that," said Cole, who moved to Blackburn in late December in a bid to boost his chances of making Eriksson's final 23-man squad.

Cole has found the net 10 times in 18 appearances since his transfer but he has been unable to force his way back into contention.

Eriksson is expected to take five strikers to the finals in Japan and South Korea in May and June with Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler, Darius Vassell and Teddy Sheringham widely regarded as the leading candidates.

Norwich, Millwall closer to Premier League dream

Norwich, who finished the league season in sixth, came from a goal down to stun Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at Carrow Road.

Earlier, Millwall rescued a deserved 1-1 draw at Birmingham City through Dion Dublin's late equaliser.

The intervention of the former England striker -- on loan from Birmingham's local rivals Aston Villa -- enables Millwall to look forward to Thursday's return leg at the New Den with great optimism.

Wolves, who were pipped for the second automatic promotion place by Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion, must improve on another unconvincing display if they are to overturn the deficit in the second leg at Molineux on Wednesday.

"We can do it, it's not impossible," manager Dave Jones told ITV Sport.

"It's very frustrating because we conceded three silly goals...everyone keeps saying the players are down but that's not the case.

"We'll have a real good go at Norwich at our place."

Away goal

Wolves have the comfort of an away goal, secured when forward Dean Sturridge kept his cool to give them a 22nd-minute lead from close range.

But although the visitors controlled much of the first half, they rarely threatened Robert Green's goal again and Norwich were well worth their second half comeback.

Mark Rivers instigated it after 56 minutes, steering a left-foot volley past Michael Oakes after Scottish defender Malky Mackay had headed the ball back across goal.

Norwich, who last graced the English Premier League in 1995, took the lead 18 minutes from time when forward Paul McVeigh looped a header over Oakes before captain Mackay made their afternoon complete with a header in the fourth minute of injury time.

But Norwich boss Nigel Worthington refused to accept his side were now the favorites.

"No way," he said. "Wolves are the club with all the money and the big names and the big stadium and we're still the underdogs.

"We still have work to do."

Dublin praise

At St Andrews, Dublin headed home a Steven Reid cross with 10 minutes remaining to earn the plaudits of his manager.

"That's the quality of Dion," said Mark McGhee. "We didn't give him good service throughout the match but all he needs is one chance."

It was no less than Millwall deserved after they conceded a goal to Steve Bruce's side 11 minutes after halftime.

Martin Grainger's lofted pass into the area was pounced on by Bryan Hughes, who finished with an excellent volley into the bottom corner of goalkeeper Tony Warner's net.

"It was frustrating, but these things are edgy affairs and I'm sure the second leg will be nervy and tight," said Bruce.

The winners of the two ties meet in the playoff final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on May 12 to decide who joins West Brom and first division champions Manchester City in the Premier League next season.

In the second division playoff semifinals first legs on Sunday, crowd disturbances at the Britannia Stadium stopped the clash between Cardiff City and Stoke City for two minutes before Cardiff prevailed 2-1, while Huddersfield Town and Brentford played out a 0-0 draw at the McAlpine Stadium.

 

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