| PADULA'S CLASS LEAVES BLUEBIRD
ON HIS ARSE
For the second
away game in a row Richard Langley proved to be the Rangers hero as
the R's dispatched Cardiff City in the hostile surroundings of
Ninian Park. This was a victory that owed as much to stout defending
as it did to two pieces of clinical finishing.
Holloway stuck with the same team that
had done for Blackpool in such an impressive manner last Saturday.
Day was in goal behind a back four of Kelly, Carlisle, Shittu and
Padula. The midfield four was Langley, Bircham, Palmer and McLeod,
with a front two of Furlong and Gallen.
The game got off to an electrifying
start and both teams could have had three goals before fifteen
minutes had been played. Paul Furlong smashed a right footer over
the bar after being played in by Gallen and shortly after Steve
Palmer had Margetson scrambling across his goal to palm away a
looping volley. Minutes later Kevin Gallen burst past the static
Cardiff defence and was only foiled when Margetson saved bravely at
his feet.
At the other end Rangers were allowing
the deadly Robert Earnshaw far too much space and luckily he wasn't
having one of his better days. Chris Day diverted an effort wide
after Earnshaw's pace had carried him clear of Shittu and Carlisle.
He also managed to plant a couple of headers over the bar. If he
measured in at more than five feet nothing it may have given Day
more problems.
Rangers obviously had a game plan and
were determined to stick grimly to it even if it meant some of the
football was not easy on the eye. Bircham and Palmer were almost
playing on top of Carlisle and Shittu, a similar ploy to that used
by Wigan against us a couple of weeks ago. This meant that there
were plenty of long balls being pumped forward, fortunately in
Gallen and Furlong there were two more than willing workers.
From one of these long pumps up field
Rangers had the ball in the net only for the linesman to lose his
bottle and stick his flag up. Gallen hustled his way past the woeful
Prior and as Margetson came out he dinked the ball over him. The
celebrations were in full swing by the time the players and fans
noticed the flag. This is not the first time officials have been
swayed by the baying Bluebird's supporters, just think back to
Richard Pacquette's dismissal in this fixture last season.
Kevin McLeod came close to opening his
Rangers account with a stinging drive from twenty five yards that
warmed the keeper's hands. As the whistle blew for the half time
break the Rangers players would have been pleased to have gone in
level. They had to soak up a lot of pressure, mainly through the
middle as Cardiff weren't averse to a long ball themselves. This had
been forced on them to a large extent by excellent performances from
Kelly and Padula who were keeping their men tightly shackled.
The second half nearly got off to a
disastrous start as Chris Day had to tip a cross onto the bar.
Ainsworth got a rare sight at goal after slipping the attentions of
Gino and Day again saved sharply. Ainsworth and Gino were having a
right old ding dong, knocking lumps out of each other all the while.
Gino gave the former Wimbledon man a shove after receiving some
treatment off the field. Ainsworth tried to get his revenge minutes
later only for Gino to mug him off as he flew into a wild challenge.
Gallen had a couple of chances to give
Rangers the lead about ten minutes into the half. His first was a
run that took him clear of Prior again but his shot trickled
harmlessly across goal. Moments later though he unleashed a searing
volley that Margetson saved brilliantly.
The goal when it came was partly down
to good delivery, good finishing and shoddy marking. Furlong won a
freekick (how many times have we said that this season!) and Gino
swung the ball to the far post. Furs was on hand to nod past
Margetson into the far corner to give Rangers a hard fought lead.
The players knew that a torrent of
pressure would come and they were not disappointed. Lennie Lawrence
withdrew Ainsworth who, despite being well marshalled by Gino, was
always a threat, and brought on Gavin Gordon. Minutes later he made
another change as Bucks Fizz clone Andy Legg came on. His impact was
immediate as he set up the equaliser within minutes.
Cardiff won a right wing corner and
Legg fired the ball to the far post. For once Carlisle failed to
pick up Thorne properly and he thumped a header past Day. The ground
erupted and many thought that the winning goal could only have been
minutes away. How right they were, but the outcome was not quite
what the huddled masses were expecting.
Chris Day had to be sharp to beat away
a drive from Thorne and at the other end Langley took a high ball on
his chest and twisted to send an overhead kick toward goal. The ball
was easily claimed by Margetson but he was to be given no chance
with what followed.
With injury time fast approaching a
hopeful ball was thumped down the left wing. McLeod and Palmer
challenged for it and managed to shovel the ball back to Gino. He
steadied himself and fired in a cross of genuine quality to pick out
Langley at the far stick. He slid in to volley past Margetson and
seal all three points for the second time in eight days.
The final whistle brought jubilation
from the alleged 966 Rangers fans in the ground. The Cardiff fans
dutifully shuffled outside to take up their positions outside the
away exit for the usual Ninian fun and games. The Rangers fans were
held in for nearly thirty minutes, but given the scenes at LR
earlier this year and the fact that celebrations were in full swing,
nobody seemed to mind.
This was a terrific battling
performance and Holloway got his tactics spot on to negate the
threat of Earnie. Deep lying centre backs, two centre midfielders
almost on top of them and as a result no space to work. Add to this,
good performances from Kelly, Gallen and Furlong, willing running
from McLeod and Langley and a stunning display from man of the match
Padula and this was a great day for a trip to the colonies.
simon@qprnet.com |
