| RANGERS OUT OF LDV AT THE FIRST
HURDLE
This was a very average match from start to
finish and you could almost sense, such was the lack of excitement
during the game, that it would be settled by the lottery of the
penalty shoot out. In fact, the game only really sparked into life
in extra time but it was for all the wrong reasons.
Holloway's hand was forced into making
changes with Carlisle, Shittu and Gallen all carrying knocks from
Saturday. When you add the England U-20 call up for Thomas as well a
reshuffle was guaranteed. Matthew Rose dropped into a back three
with Palmer and Forbes and Ollie Burgess made a welcome return at
right wing back. Wes Daly was handed a rare chance to shine
alongside Langley in the middle with Thomson and Oli joining
Connolly in the front three.
There was little action of note in the
first half. A couple of wayward Bristol City efforts into the stand
meant that Royce had little to do. Phillips at the other end was
similarly under worked, the only moment of note being a screamer
from Andy Thomson being disallowed for offside following Langley's
clever back heel.
The second half of normal time saw
Bristol City take the initiative and Christian Roberts was twice
foiled by Royce after he had managed to work himself an opening.
Doudou had been brought on at half time for Oli and as usual he was
industrious without being able to produce the final ball.
Much of the reason for the lack of
chances was a combination of two things; an extremely greasy surface
and two well marshalled defences. For Rangers, Matthew Rose in
particular seemed to revel in his sweeper role and he will have
given Holloway a few things to think about on this showing.
As the game went into golden goal
extra time everybody was hoping for a quick finish to this turgid
fare. The game exploded into life midway through the first period
when Richard Langley became the second Rangers player to get his
marching orders in four days.
As he tried to skip past Tom Doherty
in midfield the Bristol City man childishly pulled his hair. Langley
seemed to respond by cracking him in the face with an elbow. It was
a stupid and petulant response and the ref had little choice but to
dismiss him. It did seem a bizarre decision to allow Doherty to stay
on the field as it had been his schoolgirl attack that had led to
Langley's retribution.
The game now had a bit of needle to it
and Marcus Bean soon found himself cautioned for wild lunge. This
was after Gino Padula had gone straight through the back of Roberts
with a typically South American challenge. Rangers' only real chance
in extra time came when Thomson attempted to turn the ball back
across goal, sliced it and forced Phillips to palm it to safety.
The penalty shoot out couldn't have
started worse with Thomson smashing his effort against the post. All
penalties were scored until City's Danny Coles also hit the
woodwork. It came to sudden death and Matthew Rose stepped up and
blotted his copybook by cracking the ball into The Loft. It was left
for Liam Rosenior, son of Leroy, to dink a cheeky penalty into the
net and wrap up victory.
Although we are out of yet another cup
competition there are some positives to draw from the game. Ollie
Burgess looked strong on his first start in the first team since
November 2001 and Gino Padula showed enough in his thirty minutes on
the field to suggest that Holloway has invested wisely. Royce again
was excellent but my man of the match was Rose even though he missed
the penalty. He was outstanding for 120 minutes and it is unfair to
take it from him after such a commanding performance.
I would think that all of the big guns
will return for the clash against Oldham on Saturday but I would
think that a couple of people will have done enough to force their
way into Holloway's thinking following this game.
simon@qprnet.com |
