| MIGHTY MARTIN BOWLS OVER BLADES
Rangers put the
cup hoodoo to rest for once and for all last night with a
magnificent victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. This was
a performance packed with attacking verve, defensive solidity and
excellent performances from every area of the pitch.
Holloway made changes to the team that
had grabbed a late point at Luton on Saturday. Day remained in goal
but an enforced change came in the back four. Burnley didn't want
Gnohere cup tied so Terrell Forbes returned to the side; in the
position he had played all of his youth football in, centre back. He
lined up alongside Edghill, Shittu and Padula.
Marc Bircham started in midfield ahead
of Palmer to team up with Bean. The wide men of Rowlands and McLeod
were allowed free reign to support Furlong and skipper Gallen by
having a middle pair that were both solid in the tackle and mobile
enough to cover the ground when needed.
Many had wondered after Saturday and
the late substitution of Steve Palmer whether Holloway would be
brave enough to leave him out from the start. He was and the results
were clear to see as the midfield grabbed hold of the game from the
off and never relinquished control to a team that had reached the
semi's of both cups last season.
The slick passing football on show
belied Rangers growing reputation as a hit and hope side. Yes, we
were still getting the ball forward quickly but once it got there we
were treated to slick interplay between midfield and attack with
runners seemingly coming from everywhere. McLeod in particular
looked in fine fettle and Rob Kozluk was getting a real chasing.
Both Furlong and McLeod had efforts
blocked before Gallen forced the first genuine save of the game out
of Kristian Rogers. Martin Rowlands found space to fire in a cross
that Gallen met at the far post. His angled header lacked power but
was placed just inside Rogers' left hand post. The former Wrexham
man did well to scramble across to tip it away for a corner.
At the other end The Blades were being
thwarted by Jack Lester's inability to stay onside. His timing was
awful and he must have been flagged five times in the first half.
The only time he did manage to get a sight of goal his header was
poor.
Rangers took a deserved lead after 30
minutes. Kevin McLeod burst down the left and once again left Kozluk
for dead. He cut the ball back to Gallen and the ball seemed there
to strike first time but he took a touch and the chance went. He had
the vision though to pick out Rowlands who had cut across from the
right and he lashed the ball past Rogers with his left foot. It was
no more than Rangers' start deserved and better was to follow.
Kevin McLeod, now in the book for an
ugly foul on Mark Rankine, once again found space and fired in a
superb cross. Gallen met the ball at full pace in the six-yard box
but somehow managed to find the crowd rather than the net. Whilst
his play outside the box is excellent at the moment he looks bang
out of form inside it and he must be worried that Thorpe will
replace him for the Bristol City game.
On the stroke of half time Rangers
doubled their lead with a fantastic breakaway goal. Padula broke up
play on the edge of the box and nutmegged a Blade to set Bircham
free. The midfielder burst up field and picked out Kevin Gallen. He
bided his time to wait for the support of Rowlands and played the
ball into the path of the onrushing midfielder. Rowlands struck the
ball first time and it flew past the helpless Rogers to send the
vocal Rangers fans wild.
It was no surprise that Sheffield
United came out brighter in the second half as I am sure Neil
Warnock, or Colin to his friends, would have had strong words with
his charges. Rangers created the first chance of the half though
when McLeod once more found space and fired at goal. His shot looked
destined for the top corner before Rogers intervened.
The pressure on the back line was now
building and Rangers had to be strong. Luckily both Shittu and
Forbes were in imperious form and with quality full backs such as
Edghill and Padula to back them up the defence was set fair. Despite
taking a lot of pressure from players such as Wayne Allison and
former Tranmere livewire Andy Parkinson the chances were kept to a
minimum.
Padula was alert to hack an effort
from Kozluk out at the far post but other than that it was half
chances. Day was not called upon to make a taxing save all evening
and the most difficult thing he had to do was collect two efforts
from Allison from under his bar.
With fifteen minutes left to play
Martin Rowlands was forced off after a late challenge from Mark
Rankine. His replacement Ainsworth was met with a chorus of boos.
Apparently he had broken the leg of a Blades player in the past
hence the resentment. Rankine had been an uppity little git all
night and looked to get involved when he didn't need to. A number of
poor challenges should have seen him walking but referee Joslin
didn't seem to concerned about handing out justice to any United
players. He seemed a real homer but luckily both linesmen seemed to
give the lions share of the decisions our way so we cant complain
too much.
As the final whistle went the
seemingly mute Sheffield United fans trudged out of the stadium
leaving the R's to celebrate on their own. Every player to a man was
clearly delighted after claiming such a major scalp and finally
getting the giant killers tag for themselves.
This was a superb performance from
every player on the park and picking a Man of the Match is
difficult. For me though it was Terrell Forbes. Having been out
since his injury and red card at Brighton he stepped back in, in a
position he has barely played for two and a half years, and looked
real quality. Some of his early distribution was shaky but in the
second half in particular he was majestic. Not afraid to have a
touch when time allowed and unfussy when it didn't. He linked up
brilliantly with Shittu and it is difficult to see Gnohere getting
back in.
We must now carry this form into the
Bristol City game and if we do it should be an absolute belter.
simon@qprnet.com |
