| SUPER KARL CONNOLLY UNDOES
BRISTOL CITY
Four games, four
wins, ten goals for, none against. That was the home record of
Bristol City before The Entertainers breezed into Ashton Gate
yesterday. Those stats really put yesterdays result into context. If
we secure a better victory than that this season, we will surely
being heading up.
Holloway kept faith with the same
eleven that had done for Swindon and Huddersfield. The only change
came on the bench where Marc Bircham replaced Pacquette after the
young striker picked up a knock in the midweek reserve victory.
Rangers nearly hit the front after
fifteen seconds. Karl Connolly, playing in the hole behind Gallen
and Oli, picked out Gallen with an excellent through ball. He
crossed to the back post where Matthew Rose arrived to send an
effort just wide of the far post. Rangers created two more great
opportunities in the first ten minutes with both Oli and Connolly
sending headers over the bar.
Some sloppy defending gifted City the
opener soon after. Doherty launched a ball toward the ever lively
Scott Murray. It seemed a routine ball for Williams to cut out but
he made a mess of it forcing Royce to come haring off his line. As
he closed Murray down the talented midfielder lifted the ball over
him into the gaping net. This isn't the first time I have seen
Williams caught out by a ball like this and Danny Wilson had
obviously done his homework.
It could have been two soon after as
Lee Peacock, a one time Rangers target, fired wide following
Murray's cross. Peacock was giving the back three of Palmer,
Carlisle and Shittu the run around and caused more problem than any
striker we have faced this season.
The equaliser wasn't long in coming
and it was a superb piece of finishing by Connolly. Steve Palmer
pumped a long ball toward the Bristol box and it was only cleared as
far as Matthew Rose. He headed the ball back into the danger zone
and Connolly was on hand to steer a left footed volley across
Phillips and home.
Almost immediately City passed up a
chance to regain the lead with a scandalous piece of finishing.
Again Murray worked an opening on the right and the ball was allowed
to run across the six-yard box. It finally fell to Craig Woodman who
contrived to hit the post when surely the easier option was to
score. It was a massive let off and this along with the departure of
Lee Peacock injured before the break gave Rangers the impetus to go
for the jugular.
At the break Holloway added a bit more
steel to the midfield with the introduction of Marc Bircham. Dennis
Oli was the unlucky player to make way and Karl Connolly moved right
up front to partner Gallen. As it had done a week earlier against
Swindon a goal came almost immediately.
Tommy Williams won the ball from
Murray in his own half and surged down the line like a runaway
train. He found Connolly with a low ball into the box and the
bedraggled front man took one touch to control before toe poking
past Phillips. It was the classic counter attack and you could see
the City players visibly wilt as it hit the back of the net.
Moments later Rangers added the third
killer goal through the resurgent Kevin Gallen. Terrell Forbes was
hauled back as he attempted one of his trademark lung busting burst
down the right. The resulting freekick was headed on by Carlisle and
fell perfectly for Gallen to fire past Phillips and send the away
support into delirium.
Rangers allowed City a prolonged
period of possession following the goal but they were unable to beat
the three rocks at the heart of the Rangers rearguard. Countless
time Palmer, Carlisle and Shittu won important headers and dived
into last ditch tackles in a brave effort to turn back the tide of
pressure.
Matthew Rose and Marc Bircham in front
of them were throwing themselves at any long-range shots and they
both did well to deflect efforts away from the target. The defensive
effort though was starting from the front and both Gallen and
Connolly were chasing everything that moved in an effort to cut off
the initial lines of supply.
As the game wore on Rangers managed to
regain the ascendancy and started to play some more attacking
football. On the left Tommy Williams made run after run from left
back if not to set up an attack to get the ball as far away from our
goal as possible. He was not helped by an over fussy referee that
twice gave freekicks against him for being obstructed!
Marc Bircham came close to opening his
Rangers account near the end but his vicious effort following good
work from Gallen was tipped over by Phillips. Danny Murphy and Andy
Thomson came on toward the end for Langley and Connolly and both ran
hard in an effort to keep the lead secure.
At the final whistle the joy etched on
Holloway's face was a joy to see. He has waited a long time for this
victory and it meant so much to him. The win propelled Rangers to
the top of the table, albeit on goal difference, and confirmed our
promotion credentials.
Every player had a solid game and this
contributed to a brilliant victory. Royce had little to do but did
everything well. The back three were solid and both wingbacks looked
to push on as much as they could when they could. Williams showed
both sides of his game with a bad error for the Bristol City goal
and then the run and pass for the Rangers second.
Langley was pretty quiet in midfield
but went about making his tackles and Rose alongside him was
excellent. Bircham when he came on looked a little ragged but soon
settled down to put in another solid display.
All three players that lined up in
attack had terrific matches. Young Dennis Oli is one of the hardest
working players this club has seen for a while. He was unlucky to go
off at the break when a tactical change was needed. Both Gallen and
Connolly were fantastic. The amount of heavy challenges the pair
took without moaning or disappearing or shirking their
responsibilities was great to see. Connolly just shades Man of the
Match from Gallen for his two goals.
The home game against Colchester next
week will be a test of our abilities to beat the so call lesser
sides. It is all well and good beating Bristol City but it will mean
nothing if we don't beat the sides you should. I think we will,
comfortably, and really start to show this division what The
Entertainers are all about.
simon@qprnet.com |
