| GOAL SHY R'S TOPPLED BY TYKES
For the second
match in succession, Rangers managed to play well, create chance
after chance and not manage to score from open play. Against
Stockport we got a penalty, at Barnsley we were not so fortunate.
Holloway went in with the same side
that had played so well for only a point in midweek. The only
changes came on the bench with Oli and Padula replacing Murphy and
the now departed Lovell. Murphy actually watched the game from
behind the goal, which was nice to see.
Rangers started slowly which seems to
be the order of the day at the moment. There was an early scare when
Shittu and Culkin shared a moment of indecision which nearly allowed
Dyer in. As good a defender as Shittu is he does seem to allow
confusion to reign amongst his fellow players. This is not the first
time he has done this and I am sure it is something that will be
ironed out with experience. I just wonder how dearly it may cost us
before then.
Once Rangers got into their stride
some of the football was fantastic to watch. Gallen should have done
better with a volley following a sweeping five-man move that ended
with a super ball from Connolly. Gallen's effort had the crowd
diving for cover. Gallen also fired straight at the keeper when well
placed and ten lifted the rebound high over the bar. You couldn't
help wonder what might have happened if Thomson was playing and some
of the chances had fallen to him.
Next to try his luck was Connolly who
headed narrowly wide from a brilliant Rose cross. Furlong tried his
luck from distance only for it to turn out to be more of a back pass
than a shot. Barnsley's only real threat came from Bruce Dyer who
was partnering the hapless Mike Sheron in attack. One effort from
Dyer clipped Shittu's knee and looped onto the top of the bar with
Culkin stranded. Several further efforts flew wide but nothing
really looked like threatening the Rangers goal.
Half time came and with it the
withdrawal of Furlong with an injury. What a shock I hear you cry!
Although he didn't appear to be having a massive influence on the
game his mere presence seemed to unsettle Chris Morgan and the most
despised man in football (well, by me anyway) Keith Curle. With him
out of the way the Rangers attack of Gallen and Connolly seemed
lightweight (!).
It came as no surprise when Barnsley
took the lead. Bruce Dyer used his considerable muscle to power his
way past the Rangers defence. He cut the ball back for Chris Lumsdon
to fire a left footer at goal. The ball appeared to go straight
through Culkin, just as a similar effort had done in the warm up. In
his three games to date Culkin has had little to do but he is not
inspiring confidence. He did make up for it with two terrific saves
from Dyer and Rankin but the damage had already been done.
The chances were still coming at the
other end despite losing a goal. Gallen saw a shot saved by the legs
of Marriott after he had shrugged off the attentions of Curle.
Richard Langley also saw a curling free kick brilliantly turned
over. Marriott also saved bravely at the feet of the rampaging
Shittu.
And so it continued chance after
chance created and spurned. Connolly and Langley both headed wide
when well placed and Connolly had another free kick easily held. By
this time Tommy Williams had also succumbed to injury to be replaced
by Doudou. The little fella livened things up but as usual didn't
create much or appear to pose a goal threat.
The game drew to a close and Rangers
had suffered their first defeat of the season and in my eyes
deservedly so. It is criminal that you can create fifteen chances
and not take one. Something needs to be done and quickly as soon
enough the chances are going to dry up as well. Thomson's return may
solve the problem but I cant help thinking that we need to try and
bring in another goal poacher from somewhere.
I heard plenty of rumblings around me
yesterday saying that Connolly wasn't good enough to be in the side.
This of course is absolute crap as he had one of his better days
yesterday. Some people regard a lack of pace as a lack of ability
and it simply isn't the case. He will always try which is more than
you can say for some of our players past and present. What I will
not accept is players not making runs into the box in the dying
stages when a goal behind. Doudou and Gallen can both be charged as
guilty of this crime.
Few players can emerge from the game
with any credit. Gallen on his first half showing is one. His link
up play was excellent but again he has missed a whole host of
chances. He should now be on about six for the season. At the back
Terrell Forbes was quality as usual and had to be considering some
of the failings of Palmer and Shittu in the middle. Padula, a half
time replacement for Furlong looked steady enough on his debut.
Bircham was ok in midfield but he will
need to do some work on his distribution as he gives the ball away
too often. Rose alongside him had one of his games to forget. His
only real contributions were his cross for Connolly's first half
chance and a crude revenge challenge on Kevin Betsy that earned him
a yellow card.
Victory against
Peterborough is now an absolute must and if Thommo is back and we
create a similar number of chances then we should be in with a
bloody good shout. We need to hope that the knock Williams took on
his ankle isn't too serious and he should play up against is former
employers. With Carlisle and Burgess potentially back we should, in
theory, be at full strength and I doubt many teams can live with
that
simon@qprnet.com |
