ANDY Cole underlined his thirst for further success in the Worthington Cup with a two-goal salvo which left Wigan fans crying into their beer at the JJB Stadium.

The 31-year-old striker is already guaranteed a place in Ewood folklore after his match-winning strike at the Millennium Stadium last season secured the club's first major knockout trophy since 1929.

And now he's threatening to do the same again as Rovers took another giant step towards a second successive trip to Cardiff by extinguishing Wigan's dream of a place in the last four.

With Ewood likely to be declared a booze-free zone this Christmas, it's unlikely Cole and his team-mates will be allowed to celebrate the festive season in true tradition.

But if manager Graeme Souness was to relax the rules then it's a fair bet the striker's favourite tipple would be a pint of 'Worthies' given his amazing record over the last 12 months in the competition to which the bitter lends its name.

Since joining Rovers from Manchester United last December, Cole has scored in every one of his five appearances in the Worthington Cup so far.

And judging by the way he soaked up the adulation following his latest double here, who'd bet against him blazing a trail all the way to the final again?

Like all strikers, Cole thrives on goals and when they weren't flowing for him earlier in the season he looked a pale shadow of his former self as he struggled for fitness.

But, happily, those early season injury problems are now behind him and he's back to doing what he does his best.

The signs were there against Rotherham in the last round when a vintage first half display from him and Dwight Yorke tore the Yorkshiremen to shreds.

Then on Saturday, he passed a major career milestone when he bagged his 150th Premiership goal in the 2-1 defeat at Everton.

Wigan must have feared the worst, therefore, when they saw his name on the team-sheet last night and that anxiety proved well-founded as the Rovers striker went on to deliver a masterclass in the art of finishing.

Like a trained assassin, there was a deadly efficiency about the way he buried his first of the night in the 16th minute.

Then, after a couple of further near misses, he was on hand again to finally put Wigan out of their misery with his second of the night 10 minutes from time.

He could hardly have picked a better time to rediscover his scoring touch with his old club, United, set to visit Ewood on Sunday.

And his timely return to form has delighted his manager, Graeme Souness.

"Andy had a good pre-season but then got injured and it's only maybe in the last three or four games that he's been fully match fit," said the Rovers boss.

"For strikers they have to be sharp, they have to be at the top of their fitness, because six inches can be the difference between scoring goals and not scoring.

"But now he's got all the sharpness back which is necessary to get goals at the highest level and long may that continue."

Wigan began the night with high hopes of adding another Premiership scalp to their list having already accounted for West Brom, Manchester City and Fulham during their march to the last eight.

But it soon became apparent that Rovers had too much class for the Second Division leaders with Tugay, in particular, standing out in the centre of midfield.

His clever use of the ball became a feature of the first half and his pass for Cole's opener was worth the admission fee alone.

Crucially, however, it was the visitors' extra sharpness at both ends of the pitch which ultimately tipped the balance.

Saturday's defensive horror show showed no signs of rearing its ugly head as Craig Short and Martin Taylor kept a tight rein on Nathan Ellington, the man who slayed both West Brom and Fulham virtually single-handed during previous rounds.

And with Cole looking razor-sharp up front, Rovers possessed simply too much fire-power for the plucky Latics, even though a pudding of a pitch did it's best to act as a great leveller.

Souness underlined his determination to reach the Millennium Stadium by naming his strongest possible starting eleven.

And that decision was rewarded with a storming start which could have seen Rovers virtually home and dry inside the opening quarter of an hour.

David Thompson missed a golden opportunity to fire the visitors ahead when Lucas Neill's astute pass found the midfielder in acres of space but his low drive flashed inches wide of the far post.

Then Wigan missed a great chance of their own to draw first blood when Peter Kennedy's free-kick fell to Jason De Vos at the far post but the Latics skipper planted a free header straight at Brad Friedel.

Unperturbed, Rovers continued to make the running and an effort from Cole struck the base of a post after the striker had connected with a cross from Thompson.

Wigan's reprieve was only temporary, however, as Cole was deadlier in his aim two minutes later.

Tugay was the orchestrator, prizing open the Latics defence with a cleverly disguised pass which found Cole in the area and he gleefully slotted the coolest of finishes beyond former Ewood favourite John Filan.

From then on, the Latics were always facing a mountain to climb and their task would have been made all the more difficult had Yorke made the most of a chance presented to him by Jason Jarrett.

The Second Division leaders emerged with more purpose following a half-time pep-talk from Paul Jewell and only Friedel's sharp reflexes prevented Neil Roberts from scoring with a near-post header.

Rovers had several opportunities to make the game safe but Keith Gillespie failed to hit the target with only Filan to beat after racing onto Yorke's lay-off.

Then the Aussie keeper denied Cole after the former England man had sprung the Latics' offside trap again.

Typically, it was Cole who had the final say, however, when he bagged his second of the night with 10 minutes remaining.

Thompson slipped a clever pass through the Latics defence and the Rovers striker turned to shoot past Filan in customary style.

A return to Cardiff beckons.

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

ROVERS 2

Cole 16, 80