AN afternoon which started with a rousing rendition of an old Beatles favourite ended with a choral swipe at Sven Goran Eriksson after Andy Cole vented his World Cup anger on the club who helped to launch his professional career.

Still hurting following his omission from England's squad for Japan and Korea, Cole responded in the only way he knows how with two goals, an assist, and a man of the match display to ensure Rovers' end-of-season extravaganza went with a bang.

Eriksson -- the super-cool Swede who has barely put a foot wrong since he took control of the national team -- wore a worried look yesterday as he greeted the media ahead of England's trip to Dubai.

Injuries to key midfielders Steven Gerrard and Kieron Dyer over the weekend certainly did little to help his disposition.

But I wonder if he now fears he's dropped a clanger of Maik Taylor proportions after his decision to omit Cole from his 23 bound for the Far East.

The Blackburn End certainly think so as chants of 'Are you watching Eriksson?' filtered into the evening air on Saturday night as they paid homage to the man who has saved their Premiership bacon.

When Cole arrived in a club-record move from Manchester United in December Rovers' prospects looked dire as they found themselves firmly entrenched in a scrap for survival.

But 13 goals in 20 games from the 30-year-old frontman has completely transformed the whole season to such an extent that Rovers will enter next season's UEFA Cup as a top 10-force.

However, Cole will now board a plane for Zimbabwe later this week rather than one bound for the Land of the Rising Sun -- and Rovers boss Graeme Souness believes that's a national disaster.

"I've been shouting Andy's cause all along because I don't believe there's a better striker in England at this present time than him," said the Rovers boss.

"Okay, Michael Owen gets lots of headlines and he's been playing regularly all season.

"But Andy's only started playing regularly since he joined us and I can't see what more he would have had to have done to get himself into that England squad.

"He's been outstanding since he joined us and not only that but he's done the most important thing which is get goals.

"That's what strikers are counted on. They are judged in black and white in terms of how many games they've played and how many goals they've got.

"And he can hold his head up high because that's 13 in 20 now.

"If you're a top player then you must have balls and that comes in various different shapes and forms.

"He's got courage and determination and that's why he's been such a top player over the last 10 and he'll be a top player for us again next year as well.

"He's been an inspiration.

"We paid a lot of money for him, we pay him a good wage but he's delivered for us in no uncertain terms."

The last nine months have certainly been something of a rollercoaster ride but Souness and his players can take great pride from what they've achieved in their first season back in the top-flight.

A top-10 finish, a first major Cup triumph in 74 years and a place in Europe was beyond everyone's wildest dreams back in August as the club looked to consolidate after sweeping to promotion.

But, thanks to some irresistible football in the final third, all those dreams have been realised and fans are already looking forward to next season with great anticipation as they look to build on the solid foundations which have already been laid.

In Damien Duff, Matt Jansen and David Dunn, Rovers are blessed with three of the brightest young talents in the Premiership and Souness's number one goal this summer must be to repel all enquiries for his star trio.

Duff, the subject of that pre-match Beatles tribute, has been a revelation in particular over the last three months and it was fitting that he should sign off in style with yet another beautifully worked goal -- his eighth of a hugely impressive campaign.

However, all the pieces in the jigsaw only finally fitted together following Cole's arrival from Old Trafford.

Before he completed a £7.25 million move, Rovers were crying out for someone to provide the cutting edge they had been craving since the season kicked off.

And once he came to terms with life after United, he hasn't stopped scoring since -- his double here taking his tally to nine from his last 10 appearances.

Fulham, the club for whom he scored his first professional goal, had no answer to his blistering pace and clever movement.

And on another day, Cole might have disappeared with two matchballs after creating and squandering a host of chances.

As it was, a deadly second half double proved more than enough to kill off a side who showed less devil than a dish of Angel Delight.

Cole was at the centre of most of Rovers' best work in a first half which rarely threatened to catch fire.

Twice he saw headers flash wide following crosses from Jansen and Keith Gillespie whereas Fulham offered precious little going forward apart from a rare effort from Louis Saha which flew inches wide.

But suddenly the game sparked into life when Maik Taylor gifted Cole one of the most bizarre goals of his career in the 53rd minute.

There appeared to be little danger when Taylor received a routine back-pass from Jon Harley, but when Cole closed him down, the Fulham keeper tried to take it past him, and the Rovers striker executed the perfect sliding tackle before stroking the ball into the vacant net.

Cole turned provider 13 minutes later as the home side fashioned a brilliant second.

His clever turn and sweeping pass sent Jansen galloping clear and, though his touch took him wide, he kept his composure to thread a neat ball through to Duff who swept an expert finish inside Taylor's far post.

By now it was exhibition stuff as Fulham gave up the ghost.

Cole fed Jansen again only for the England striker to be denied by Taylor and Cole then fired over the bar himself after a flowing move involving Mark Hughes and Lucas Neill.

Like all good strikers, though, he came back for more and his endeavour was rewarded with a sumptuous third in the 83rd minute.

Tugay's instinctive through-ball sent the jet-heeled frontman racing away and he effortlessly rounded Andy Melville before impishly side-footing a cheeky finish past Taylor -- a fitting finale to a magnificent season!

ROVERS 3

Scorers: Cole 53, 83 Duff 66

FULHAM 0

Attendance...30,487

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