| PATCHED UP R'S NOT A PATCH ON
GRIMSBY
Rangers crashed
out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle to a lively Grimsby Town side.
With the Rangers squad badly depleted through injury this was never
going to be an easy task, unfortunately, the players that did make
it just didn't have enough to beat The Mariners.
The only way Rangers could have picked
up more injuries than they did the other night in the LDV was via a
Dream Team style coach catastrophe. Olly was counting the cost of
this competition and had to make a host of changes, both in
personnel and positions for the game.
Day returned in goal behind a back
four of Rowlands, Carlisle, Forbes and McLeod. The midfield four was
Sabin, Palmer, Bean and Ainsworth, with Thorpe and Gallen up front.
You are always likely to struggle with two attacking midfielders at
full back, a centre half in midfield, a striker on the right wing
and a right-winger on the left! The bench was as young as I can ever
remember with Jake Cole and sixteen year old John Fletcher drafted
in to provide much needed cover.
Grimsby tested the woodwork after only
four minutes as Iffy Onoura headed against the bar when left
unmarked in the area. This should have served warning that this was
going to be a torrid afternoon for patched up Rangers. Michael
Boulding shot wide when well placed and former Newcastle midfielder
Des Hamilton cracked a shot that Day could only hold at the second
attempt. Any attacks that Rangers could manage were being quickly
snuffed out although Eric Sabin was working manfully to provide an
outlet on the right side.
The out of position players clearly
weren't gelling and the left back area in particular was proving a
fruitful one for Grimsby. Holloway changed things and moved Palmer
to left back, Gallen into midfield and McLeod up front. Macca
quickly found himself booked for an incident with Tony Crane. Having
been penalised for high feet McLeod found himself set upon by Crane
and the Grimsby man was rightly booked. What was bizarre was that
Paul Danson also booked McLeod. He had done nothing to warrant it
but this was only one of a host of crazy decisions he dished out. To
be fair to him though, he kept them even by giving Rangers almost
everything in the first half and Grimsby almost everything in the
second.
The half had passed with Rangers
having failed to test keeper Aiden Davison with one single effort.
Rangers had tried to hit The Mariners on the break but with Gallen
now in midfield Thorpe had not managed to make one single ball stick
and allow support to arrive. It seemed that the best outlet was
Sabin and his pace was certainly causing Barnard problems. Sabs does
not seem able to pick a final ball though for all the hard work he
is currently putting in.
At the break there was yet another
tactical switch as McLeod moved to the left wing and Ainsworth went
up front to provide our third different strike pairing of the day.
It made no difference though and Grimsby struck the bar again soon
after the restart. This time a freekick was harshly awarded near the
by-line just outside the box. The ball was shifted to Barnard and he
cracked an effort against the underside of the bar with Day well
beaten.
Things were looking a little more
hopeful though for Rangers although chances were still at a premium.
Ainsworth nodded a Palmer cross wide and Sabin was still running at
his man and seemingly thriving on the excellent service he was
getting from Gallen. The striker was again proving what an excellent
player he can be in midfield and this display will no doubt bring
more calls for him to move there on a permanent basis.
Rangers looked to have picked up yet
another injury when Martin Rowlands left the field to be replaced by
Wes Daly. Fresh from his nine-minute loan spell at Gravesend and
Northfleet, Daly looked full of life and lifted the tempo of the
game with some excellent tackling and a series of raking passes. He
looked like the Daly you see dominating reserve games and maybe he
is now ready to follow Beany and make the transition from reserve
player to vital first teamer.
Michael Boulding was causing all sorts
of problems with his pace and love of the theatrical and Terrell
Forbes did well to deny him a clear sight of goal with a terrific
chase and challenge. This though was merely delaying the inevitable
and Boulding scored the winner with ten minutes left to play.
Carlisle lost out in an aerial
challenge with Onoura and the ball bounced invitingly for Boulding.
The ex-Villa striker turned well and fired a low shot inside Day's
left hand post to give Grimsby the winner their play had deserved.
Dennis Oli replaced Ainsworth in a desperate final throw of the dice
but it came to nothing as Rangers found themselves out of the FA
Cup, although I wouldn't think that outside the boardroom there will
be too many tears being shed.
This was not a great display although
the lads really worked hard to try and do something. Forbes looked
solid at the back and needed to be as Carlisle was not having the
best of games. In midfield Gallen and Bean linked up well and Danson
harshly booked the youngster for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge
late in the game. Gallen's vision from the centre of the park is
excellent and he looked very much at home in there and he was my Man
of the Match.
Eric Sabin caused plenty of problems
for the Grimsby defence with his fleet footedness and if he can
learn to lift his head and pick that final pass then he could be
very handy cover on the right hand side. Wes Daly was terrific when
he came on and I really hope he can get an injury free run to prove
to people just how good he can be.
We face now face midget killers
Brentford on Tuesday and we will need to get a few of the injured
players back in order to make a real go of it. I would not feel
confident about going into the game without two proper full backs as
Grimsby showed what can happen of you do.
simon@qprnet.com |
