| NOT-SO-HOTSPUIRS ROASTED BY
RANGERS
A 3-2 victory that
was actually more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Rangers
put in a spirited performance to see off there more illustrious
opponents with ease. With his seemingly preferred 3-4-1-2 formation
on show there was plenty of good movement and invention on show.
Richard Langley filled the gap behind
the strike force of Gallen and Connolly with the hope that he could
use his guile to create the chances. As it was Spurs started the
brighter and the R's colossal back three of Palmer, Carlisle and
Shittu had to be at their best.
Spurs had recent signing Acimovic on
show and he was very Hoddle like, luckily for him this only extends
to the football side of things. I don't think he makes wild
disparaging statements about the afflicted! Whilst a lot of what he
did was neat and tidy he got little change out of Bircham and Rose.
Bircham in particular is proving to be a leader of men and his
influence is clear to see.
The lead came shortly after Thomson
had replaced Gallen. Not sure what was wrong with Kev, might have
been a bit warm for him! I hope it is nothing more sinister. Rangers
won a deep freekick and Digby pumped it into the Spurs box. Carlisle
headed on, Langley flicked it past the keeper and Thommo was on hand
to poach a typical strike from a couple of yards.
Minutes later it was two courtesy of
Carlisle. His initial header from a Langley corner was tipped over
by Sullivan. From the next corner he planted a firm header into the
net via the fingertips of the Spurs stopper. At the other end great
blocks from Shittu and Rose meant that Rangers went into the break
two to the good.
Spurs started the second half the
stronger and pulled one back after fifty-five minutes. A ball was
spread wide toward Etherington and Digby and Palmer had a quick game
of yes, no, maybe. In the end they left it to each other and
Etherington slotted home coolly. It would be unfair to blame just
one of them for this error, so we will say that it was absolute crap
from the pair of them!
The expected onslaught and subsequent
capitulation didn't arrive and a couple of minutes later the two
goal cushion was restored. From a Spurs corner Rangers broke at
pace. Thomson slipped a lovely ball wide to the rampant Forbes and
Matthew Rose attacked his cross at the near post. The ball ended up
in the net but who got the final touch was open to debate. I think
it was Chris Perry, but I'm sure Rose will claim it and raise two
fingers to some of his knockers.
The usual host of substitutions was
now taking place and Bean, Daly, Fitzgerald, Duncan and Doudou all
got into the action. Dan Shittu was even given a five-minute break
before returning to the action. The change of personnel also
signalled a change to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation. This
served its purpose as Spurs had started to get a lot of room down
Rangers left. Murphy was getting a real chasing from Etherington. He
has to learn to stay on his feet a bit more as he dives in far too
often.
Spurs nicked a second three minutes
from time when young defender Ron Henry poked home from close range.
It mattered not and Rangers held out for a deserved victory.
The best thing to come from the game
was how inventive we looked with the new formation. Lots of little
triangles round the box were sometimes let down by a poor final
ball. There are still a couple of weeks to go and with a bit of work
this new tactic could cause teams all sorts of bother if it is
deployed with the correct personnel. I would rather see Langley
deeper in midfield with Doudou or Connelly in the hole but it's not
my choice is it?
All in all a
good game, a good performance and a good result. Roll on August 10th.
Man of the Match - Clarke Carlisle
simon@qprnet.com |
