Angry Souness faces another ban

Graeme Souness faces another touchline ban after being sent to the stands during the second half of his side’s 2-0 Worthington Cup win at Wigan tonight.

But the Rovers boss was in no mood to discuss his 57th-minute altercation with fourth official Matt Messias which led to him being banished by referee Andy D’Urso.

Souness protested fiercely about an incident involving his goalkeeper Brad Friedel but the specific nature of his complaint remained a mystery.

Souness angrily refused to comment in the press conference afterwards, saying only: “I came out to ask the linesman if he got it right when Brad came out and caught the ball.

“I don’t want to talk about it and it is not important.”

Souness was delighted with his side’s fighting qualities after withstanding some fierce Wigan pressure in the second half.

And he reserved the biggest praise for his two-goal hero Andy Cole, whose performance proved the difference between his side and the gallant Second Division leaders.

Souness said: “Andy’s finishing was excellent and I think it is only in the last three or four games that he has found his full match fitness.

“He had a good pre-season before he got injured but now he’s got the sharpness back that you need in front of goal.

“Scoring the first goal was so important because had Wigan scored first it would have been a different game. We had to wait too long before we killed the game off but all credit to Wigan who kept going and stayed very much in the game.”

Wigan boss Paul Jewell said he was proud of his side after their eventual exit.

He said: “I can’t ask any more of my players. We played against world-class players and our attitude was tremendous.

“They were a team packed with internationals and we pushed them right to the end and they needed two great strikes.

“The cup was always a bonus because realistically we were never going to win it and hopefully we can bounce back on Saturday because our main ambition has always been to win promotion.”