OFFICIAL forgiveness for Stan Collymore might take a little longer but it took the Liverpool substitute only two minutes of the European Cup Winners' Cup quarter final second leg tie last night for him to regain the approval of the Anfield crowd.
Liverpool's one goal lead against S K Brann was deserved but hardly comfortable, when Collymore rose from the substitutes bench after an hour and scored off his shin after a typically direct and rumbustious run on goal.
Two goals from Robbie Fowler on either side of the Collymore side show, the first from the penalty spot, ensured Liverpool a semi final place and scuppered Brann's attempts to become the first Norwegian side to reach the last four in a major European competition.
An excess of football is often blamed for English clubs early exits from Europe but the problems faced by Brann were of a different nature only one competitive match in more than four months and that was the first leg in Norway a fortnight ago.
Nevertheless, Brann's pace and exuberance had disturbed Liverpool in that leg to such an extent that the Norwegians were particularly disparaging about the defensive capabilities of Neil Ruddock. Mark Wright's return to central defence left Ruddock only able to glare at his adversaries from the substitutes' bench.
Brann underlined their point by almost taking a seventh minute lead. Jason McAteer, wearing a thick white headband to protect "his stitched forehead, was left trailing by the full back, Morten Pedersen, and Andre Tor Flo might have made a stronger contact than the header that fell wide of David James's far post.
Liverpool had begun quite cagily, with Fowler an isolated figure up front, although Jamie Redknapp did have an appeal for a penalty when Per Ove Ludvigsen seemed to handle and Steve McManaman, at full pelt, was only stopped on the edge of the area by Stefan Paldan's reckless challenge.
In the 27th minute, however, Liverpool's patience and possession was rewarded with a goal that provided a 1-0 lead on the night and 2-1 lead on aggregate. Fowler was felled by Claus Eftevaag after a one two between John Barnes and McManaman created the danger and the Liverpool striker stroked in his 27th goal of the season from the spot.
James had been largely unoccupied, but he finished the half in jittery mood with a punch so weak that it would not have zapped a Martian invader in one, of his addictive video games. It presented Eirik Skjaelaaen an opportunity that, luckily for the Liverpool goalkeeper, he wasted.
The home side had cause for reorganisation with Phil Babb replacing the injured Dominic Matteo on the left of a three man defence at half time. They continued to proceed with caution, except for McManaman, whose performance was as bright and fresh as a newly laundered shirt (designer, naturally), with Vidar Bahus turning his placed shot round the post. But Patrik Berger's contribution, by comparison, was washed out and his run and shot, which fell narrowly wide on the hour, did not prevent his substitution by Collymore.
Two minutes later, after collecting Barnes's short pass in a central position, Collymore's aggressive run to goal beat a defender, as much through surprise as skill. Ove Ludvigsen bore down on him in the area, but from his challenge the ball ricocheted off Collymore's shins and rolled into the corner of the net.
Liverpool's domination was assured in the 77th minute, when Stig Inge Bjornebye broke free on the left and crossed for Fowler to apply the most clinical of finishes from 10 yards.
