BIRMINGHAM City manager Trevor Francis insisted that Sheffield Wednesday old boy Danny Sonner had proved a point as the Owls were dumped out of the Worthington Cup.

Sonner was allowed to leave Hillsborough on a free transfer in the summer but he had the last laugh as he scored the opening goal of a 2-0 win and impressed in midfield to help power the Blues into the semi-finals.

He had been struggling for full fitness in the build-up to the game but Francis's injury-hit side were able to cruise to a comfortable 2-0 win against a lacklustre Wednesday side. Now City can look forward to their second League Cup semi-final in five years against either Manchester City - who are also their FA Cup third round opponents - or Ipswich.

Transfer-listed striker Dele Adebola scored the killer second goal as promotion-chasing Blues avenged a 1-0 league reversal at Hillsborough in October.

Francis said: "That goal would have given Sonner enormous satisfaction against his old club.."

Spanish press reports said the incident occurred as Ronaldo emerged from the Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian, northern Spain, where on he had joined a group of friends on Saturday during a short break from Capbreton in south-west France where he is being treated for a long-standing knee injury.

But the 1996 and 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year told Italian journalists that he had not been driving.

"Cesar (one of his friends) was driving because I never drive," he told the Inter Milan website.

"The police were waiting at the exit to the restaurant and stopped us and other passing cars," Ronaldo added.

"I paid a fine for Cesar, and Nilton Petrone (one of his entourage) then took the wheel. That was all that happened," he said.

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