Cole: I'm delighted I joined Blues
Andrew Cole has admitted his relief that Dwight Yorke's failure at Birmingham did not put him off joining Blues' promotion push.
As one half of Manchester United's so-called 'Soul Brothers' strike partnership, Cole combined with Yorke in terrorising defences both home and abroad during the Red Devils' domestic and European dominance.
Now though, Cole and Yorke - who has this season scored five goals for Roy Keane's Sunderland side - find themselves at odds as Blues and the Black Cats battle for the Championship crown.
With two games of the regular season remaining, Birmingham enjoy a one-point advantage over second-placed Sunderland while Derby lie just another point further back in third.
And Cole, who has scored once in three appearances for Blues since arriving from Portsmouth, confirmed Yorke's dark days at St Andrews, where he netted just twice in 16 appearances following a 2004 transfer from Blackburn, never caused him to hesitate when offered the chance to join manager Steve Bruce's side.
The 35-year-old Cole said: "Dwight Yorke is one of my biggest mates and, of course, he also knows Steve Bruce.
"Dwight knew I was coming here to Birmingham because I talked to him about it, and we said just because it did not work out for him at Birmingham does not mean it is not going to work out for me.
"Dwight and I are opposites - that is why we were so successful together I think and why we still get along so well.
"Birmingham are a very big club with a great fan base, everyone knows that, and I think they were very unlucky to have been relegated from the Premier League last season.
"Twelve months later and the club are in a great position to go straight back up again, but it is a very tight race for promotion.
"We are on top at the moment, but Sunderland have been on a great run recently and you cannot discount Derby."
Cole's appearances for Blues have been limited by a hamstring strain sustained on the club's Wast Hills training ground.
But after watching him open the scoring in Sunday's 3-2 win at Wolves which propelled City to the top of the table, Bruce is now confident the player capped 15 times by England is close to full fitness.
And the St Andrews supremo said: "Andrew has already been a tremendous signing for us and who knows, he might yet get crucial goals for us.
"I have always thought he should have played form England more often but people like Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham were making it difficult for him to get in.
"With hindsight, perhaps Andrew was a bit quick to leave Manchester United but nevertheless, throughout most of his career he has played at the top level."
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