| HANDY ANDY
SHATTERS HOLLOWAY'S HEROES
Football can be a
cruel, cruel game. Just ask Clarke Carlisle and Danny Shittu, one
mistake a piece in 120 minutes and enough to cost a place in
Division 1. There will be no criticism from me, I am so proud of
every one of the Rangers players that battled their hearts out
yesterday.
The team for the game virtually picked
itself with the only dilemma for Holloway being who would partner
semi final hero Paul Furlong in attack. It was a straight choice
between Thomson and Pacquette and rather surprisingly he went for
Pacquette. I think I would have preferred to see him for the last
half an hour as an impact player.
Chris Day started in goal with the
usual back four of Kelly, Carlisle, Shittu and Padula in front of
him. Gallen was again wide right with Palmer, Bircham and McLeod
alongside him. Richard Pacquette got the nod to partner Furlong in
attack.
Cardiff started the quicker of the two
sides and you had to wonder whether the occasion was getting to the
Rangers boys. Earnshaw fired wildly over the bar and soon after
Graham Kavanagh smashed a volley wide. This was just about the only
look in that Earnshaw got in 90 minutes as the twin towers of Shittu
and Carlisle did a superb job on him.
Kevin Gallen tested the reflexes of
Neil Alexander on the ten-minute mark with a fierce free kick from
the left that the Bluebirds keeper tipped over the bar. Richard
Pacquette was next to try his luck but rather than opting for the
controlled finish he blasted his shot into the massed ranks of the
Cardiff fans at the south end of the magnificent Millennium Stadium.
The game was so nervy that both teams
were struggling to create anything in the way of clear-cut chances.
The half chances became more and more important and Furlong should
have done better when he shrugged off Gabbidon and chipped both
Alexander and his goal. He may have had enough time for a touch but
in the cauldron of a play off final maybe instinct takes over when a
cool head may be needed.
Furlong headed another chance wide
before he was the first player into Mr Webb's notebook for a wild
challenge on Gabbidon. Furlong had been on the end of a few strange
ones from Webb who seemed willing to allow Peter Thorne to get away
with exactly the same at the other end. This will have come as no
surprise to those that saw Webb's performance in the game at
Brentford when he gave us little throughout 90 minutes. I know that
will sound like sour grapes and it isn't meant to but I really do
think that he has some Rangers related issues.
The Cardiff left was proving
productive for them and Andy Legg was having an excellent game.
Kavanagh headed Legg's cross over the bar and minutes later the
Irishman was in Webb's book for cleaning out Kelly.
The second period started with Rangers
in the ascendancy and both Gallen and Furlong had early chances to
snatch the advantage. Firstly Gallen was played in by Furlong but
his left footed shot was straight at Alexander. If it had been on
his right side I would have backed him top tuck it away. Furlong
then managed to find space in the box but he smashed a wild effort
high and wide when he should have done much, much better.
Pacquette came within millimetres of a
goal when McLeod spotted his near post run. The young wingers cross
just evaded the flying strikers boot and soon after Thomson replaced
Pacquette as Holloway tried to shake things up. In truth Pacquette
had been a little quiet and the day seemed to have gotten to him. I
would still have gone the other way round with an hour for Thommo
and then Pacquette for the last half an hour and any extra time.
Soon Gallen was trying his luck again
and his volley from just outside the box fizzed over the bar. Gallen
showed that he is wasted on the right side where he struggles to get
involved in the game through no fault of his own. It shows that this
is an area of the squad that needs strengthening as you cant have
your most potent goal threat tucked out of the way like this.
Ten minutes from the end Williams
surprisingly replaced Padula. I can only assume that Gino was not
100%, as I would have thought McLeod was the more likely candidate
for a rest, as he looked absolutely buggered for the last twenty
minutes of regular time. For Cardiff Andy Campbell replaced Earnshaw
much to the buck toothed strikers disgust. This though would prove
to be the difference between the two sides.
Thommo fired well wide with five
minutes to go and then in the final minute he had the chance to make
himself a play off hero once again. The cumbersome Prior allowed a
ball to bounce and Thommo nipped round him to loop a header over
Alexander and just wide of the post. It was agonising watching it
drift wide and you had to wonder whether there would be much more to
give. With Cardiff enjoying much more possession most of the Rangers
players had run themselves to a standstill yet there was now another
30 minutes to go.
In extra time Clarke Carlisle produced
a magnificent challenge to thwart Campbell and at the other end
Furlong was off target with a far post header from a McLeod cross.
The chances now started to come in quick succession as tired legs
and minds took over.
Carlisle surged from the back with the
ball and played the ball into Thomson, who swept it wide to Gallen.
The big centre back had continued his run and Gallen found him with
a tremendous cross. The big man planted his header agonisingly wide.
At the other end a Graham Kavanagh freekick found the head of Prior.
His header from no more than six yards was powerful and accurate yet
somehow Day managed to fling up his arms to turn the ball away,
Furlong mopped up by heading behind for a corner.
The second period of extra time saw
yet more chances. Andy Legg cracked a freekick over the bar and at
the other end Tommy Williams set off on a weaving run down the left.
He managed to beat two Cardiff players yet with Thommo and Furs in
the box screaming for a cut back he shot right footed. The shot was
weak and didn't trouble Alexander and it was another case of the
chance of glory clouding a player's judgement. I am not going to
have a go as how could any of us possibly know what was going
through his mind at the time.
Then the moment came, the moment that
condemned Rangers to another season in Division 2 and sent the
Bluebirds up. Carlisle trapped the ball at the back and tried to
knock the ball up field. His pass was poor and fell straight to
Whalley. Campbell was already on his way and the ball to fins him
was perfect, Shittu stood for offside but the decision never came.
He couldn't get back to Campbell and the former Boro striker lobbed
the advancing Day to send the Cardiff fans into delirium.
Rangers couldn't find a way back and
the final whistle saw a stadium running the full gamete of emotions.
The joy on the faces of the Cardiff fans and players was in stark
contrast to the pained expressions of the R's.
The Rangers players had given all they
had and it was cruel that the winner should come from a mistake but
that always looked like it would be the case. I can't remember ever
seeing a game that was so nervy from first whistle to last. I hope
that this will serve to make Rangers stronger and add a steel and
resolve that has been missing from the team at times.
I would like to offer my
congratulations to Cardiff and wish them well for next season in
Division 1. It will be tough but it will be far easier for a club on
the up to cope with rather than a club on the slide as we were in
our time there.
Finally I would like to say thank you
to the players, the staff and the fans for making this a great
season. Even though I have scarcely been so disappointed after a
game it was a fantastic occasion in a fantastic stadium and one that
I will always remember.
Right now I just can't wait for it all
to get going again. Roll on the 9th August!
simon@qprnet.com |
