| PROSSER THE
ARSE TURNS GAME INTO FARCE
It is difficult to know where to begin
having witnessed this game. What started out as an entertaining game
of football between two play-off hopefuls descended into farce when
referee Phil Prosser went mental.
With Danny Shittu suspended Rangers
brought Aziz Ben-Askar back into the defence to play alongside Steve
Palmer. The only other change to the side that had played out a
creditable draw with Brighton saw Karl Connolly replace Marcus
Bignot. There had been hopes that Richard Langley was to force his
way onto the bench as he took part in the pre-match warm up. He
didn't, but it was great to see him back kicking a ball and looking
sharp.
The opening exchanges were pretty even but the contrast in the
styles of the two sides was obvious. Wycombe seemed content to lump
the ball to flabby carthorse Andy Rammell from every angle whilst
Rangers looked to get Doudou on the ball and let him terrorise the
opposition. I know which one I would rather watch. Steve Brown on
Wycombe's left flank was having a rare old time trying to keep up
with the little man and as usual the best way of stopping him seemed
to be kicking him.
The game was slightly sterile though at this stage and a tactical
change by Wanderers seemed to open the game up completely. Keith
Ryan dropped back into midfield and the ridiculously named Jermaine
McSporran switched to attack. This meant that the ball could now be
played on the deck by both teams and long periods of passing
football ensued. Indeed a fantastic piece of movement by Rangers saw
Thomson grab the opener.
Karl Connolly picked up the ball on the left flank and played it
into Gallen's feet. He carried the ball to the by-line and returned
the ball to the onrushing Connolly. His fine low ball was stabbed
home at the near post by Thommo for number eighteen of the season.
We have not seen such a prolific striker since Rodney Marsh and it
is not before time. The lead only lasted six minutes as Wanderers
scored from a penalty.
A ball into the box was falling to Rammell when he hit the deck like
a Taleban fighter in an air raid. The ref said that Forbes had
shoved him, this was a generous decision to say the least. I will
agree that Forbes had raised his hands and that they did make
contact with the bloated frame of Rammell but not with sufficient
power to move him, let alone fell him. Steve Brown stepped up and
made no mistake. Minutes later and Wycombe could have taken the
lead. Digby had to be at his best to deny McSporran after he had
outpaced Palmer and Ben-Askar.
On the stroke of half time Kevin Gallen ran onto a through ball and
was brought down inside the area by Jason Cousins. The ref pointed
to the spot for another dubious looking penalty and then the shit
hit the fan. Or should I say half the Wycombe team hit anybody
within their field of vision! As they took issue with Gallen for his
alleged theatrics, an almighty brawl kicked off. The only players
not involved were Fraser Digby and Steve Brown. After taking the
advice of his linesmen, who were both fifty yards away from the
incident, Prosser decided to send off McSporran and Danny Senda and
show a yellow card to Chris Vinnicombe. The strange thing was that
no Rangers player was even spoken to, are we to believe they just
stood there and let themselves be punched. I doubt that very much.
Oh, Thomson missed the penalty by the way. Martin Taylor had done
his homework and knew exactly were the ball was going.
So, half time and we had two goals, two penalties and two red cards.
Not bad going for what had not been a dirty game and would not turn
into one. Lawrie Sanchez was visibly incensed and waited for Prosser
as the officials left the pitch. I am not surprised, I think if it
had been me, I would have hung one on him.
As the second half began we all thought that we had seen all the
drama there was. Oh how wrong we were! Rangers grabbed the lead nine
minutes after the restart. A surging run from Doudou ended with a
perfectly weighted through ball for Terrell Forbes. His low ball to
the near post was tucked home by Gallen for his fourth goal since
coming home. Seven minutes later and Karl Connolly scored our goal
of the season to date.
A cross into the box was not dealt with properly and the ball looped
high to the edge of the area. Connolly waited for it to drop and
unleashed a thunderous left-footed volley into the top corner. It
was almost a mirror image of his goal against Chelsea in pre-season.
Now we were cruising, or so we thought. The prospect of one team
running away with the game as a result of his aberrations was too
much for the merry whistle blower and he threw The Chairboys a
lifeline.
A freekick twenty-five yards from goal was taken by Brown and easily
fielded by Digby. But wait, Danny Murphy had encroached, "What a
wanker" thought Prosser, "I can't let him get away with that despite
the fact that it has had no bearing on the actual freekick". Murphy
was booked, the kick was matched forward ten yards and Dannie Bulman
fired through the wall and into the net.
With fourteen minutes left to play Gavin Peacock scored his first
goal since his loan to Charlton ended. Yet another great run and
ball from Doudou and Peacock stole a march on the defence to fire
past Taylor at his near post. Cruising again, but yes you've guessed
it, time for another crazy decision from the ref. I didn't know
straight jackets came in black! Rammell and Ben-Askar battle for the
ball and once again the fat man ended up on his arse. The result, a
penalty and a booking for Ben-Askar. What an absolute fucking joke.
Rammell managed to raise himself from the ground after the terrible
assault on him to tuck home the spot kick.
It was now 4-3 but in truth, Rangers had several opportunities to
put the game well out of reach. Martin Taylor pulled off good stops
from Doudou, Thomson and Gallen twice to keep the score respectable.
Had he not been in such good form we could have been looking at a
cricket score.
The game ended with the nerves jangling and the heart beating as
Rangers tried to play keep ball and nearly coming unstuck a couple
of times. It was a well-deserved victory and one I think we would
have got if it were eleven against eleven. I am sure that Wycombe
would not have scored three had the ref not been trying to make it
up to them.
There were some good performances amongst this farce. Doudou was
outstanding and revelled in the space that Wycombe had no choice but
to afford him. Even when the sides were level and Wycombe had two
players marking him he beat them time and again. Matthew Rose was
excellent in midfield and both full backs played well. The defence
looked a little shaky without Shittu but that is to be expected
given his heroic performances of late. Karl Connolly was as good as
I have seen him this year and I hope he can continue in this vein as
he can be talismanic for us. If he plays well so does the rest of
the team.
It seems a shame that a match report should have such a large
section devoted to the deficiencies of one man but I don't think Mr
Prosser would be happy if he didn't get his mention. He gave three
piss poor penalties, the second of which sparked a twenty man brawl.
From the brawl he sent two off and booked another. As a result of
this, he spent the rest of the game ignoring every Wycombe offence
and trying to piss off the Rangers crowd.
He booked Karl Connolly for walking past Taylor. Taylor hit the deck
like a sniper had got him and the ref fell for it. Eventually. He
looked at his linesman who gave nothing. He took a few more steps
and thought "Bugger it, I am going to book him". Then Chris
Vinnicombe absolutely butchered Doudou on the half way line and
nothing. Vinnicombe would have had to walk, but the offence was
worth a straight red and not even a yellow was shown.
Most of you reading this will remember the performance of Gurnham
Singh against Spurs all those years ago and more recently Rob Styles
against Fulham and Charlton but this fella takes the cake. If we
ever see him again I think I may just get up and walk out because I
can't stand to watch an official that thinks he is bigger than the
game. We didn't go to see him, we went to see a football match and
he denied us that simple pleasure. |