Rangers’ rare foray into the 4th round of The FA
Cup was finished by a contentious 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Loftus Road. The
game itself was something of a sideshow to the Terry racism charge and the
subsequent brouhaha over whether Anton Ferdinand should shake his alleged
abusers hand or not. The football was something of an afterthought and it
showed in what was a very disappointing game all round.
There had been stories flying about in the press about
whether there would be a handshake from Ferdinand as the two teams exchanged
mock pleasantries prior to kick off. I really don’t see the need to shake hands
before a game myself, go out there, kick lumps out of each other and shake
hands at the end. There was a growing theory that the entire team would snub the
England skipper so in the end they just abandoned the whole hand shaking
ceremony for fear of upsetting the feelings of a man that was clearly caught on
camera racially abusing someone.
Getting back to the football, there had been rumours in the
press of injuries to Helguson and Buzsaky that would keep them out of this one,
as it was both started and both were withdrawn. Kenny was in goal behind Young,
Hall, Ferdinand and Hill. Mackie, Barton, Buzsaky and Wright-Phillips were in
midfield with Smith partnering Helguson. New signing Nedum Onuoha was amongst
the substitutes but you’d expect him to be an automatic pick at centre half
come Wednesday night at Aston Villa.
Terry’s every touch was greeted by the expected hoots of
derision from the Rangers supporters. Terry in truth didn’t seem that fussed
about the whole issue, he is so loathed by almost every supporter in the
country that it is probably water off a ducks back to him. News that his family
are scum was also taken in his stride. The funniest chant of the lot discussed
the merits of Ashley Cole’s preferred storage place for a Nokia, proper terrace
wit!
The opening exchanges were tepid to say the least, the best
player Daniel Sturridge has ever seen play, Daniel Sturridge, fired well wide
before Mata, the pick of the Chelsea players on the day, skipped through and
forced Kenny into action with a low block. Barton shot wide at the other end
and both teams then set about, well, nothing pretty much, for the next twenty
minutes. Chelsea had the bulk of the ball but couldn’t find a way through a
solid back four expertly marshalled by Ferdinand. In truth, it was pretty dull
stuff.
Meireles volleyed well wide as half time approached, the
ever disappointing Wright-Phillips fired wide of Cech’s goal with the Wordy
tribute act not called upon to get his little helmet muddy. The half ended with
little to talk about at the break. The half time entertainment of two morbidly
obese men humiliating themselves with their total lack of footballing skills
proved more palatable. Helguson was forced from the fray at the break with a
recurrence of the groin injury that threatened to keep him out of the game
completely. Macheda came on in his place; an injured Helguson would have been
more effective.
Sturridge’s favourite player, Sturridge, smashed a wild shot
well off target in the only real chance of the opening exchanges of the second
half. The pattern was exactly the same as the first half, Chelsea possession,
little penetration and little entertainment. Rangers finally forced Cech into
action when Wright-Phillips decided to take on Cole and beat him, he hammered
the ball low across the box and Cech spilled it back into the danger area but
no Rangers player was on hand to convert. Play switched back to the other end
and controversy ensued.
Mata stood a hopeful ball up to the back stick where Hill
and Sturridge found themselves in close proximity to one another. The cross was
way too high even for the man with the most prodigious leap Daniel Sturridge
has ever seen, Daniel Sturridge. He knew he wasn’t going to reach it so he
nudged into Hill and collapsed to the floor. Mike Dean, never shy in giving a
penalty whether he has seen the incident or not, pointed to the spot. Replays
showed that unless Dean possessed either X-Ray vision or three players were
invisible, he couldn’t have seen the alleged foul at all. Guesswork should not
be the basis for refereeing decisions. Mata stepped up to take the kick and
despatched it coolly past Kenny.
Hughes sent forgotten man Rob Hulse into the fray late on
for the tiring Buzsaky and asked him to put himself about a bit. In truth he
provided a presence up from that the seemingly disinterested Macheda hadn’t
since the break. I see little point in hanging onto the young Italian, I
thought he was poor before he arrived and I’ve seen nothing in his time here to
change that opinion.
It was deep into 7 minutes injury time, caused by Smith
cracking in a shot so fierce that it meant Ramires needed the use of a
stretcher to leave the field. Young found himself in space on the edge of the
box, took a good touch and cracked in a low shot that Cech had to save low to
his right. He almost pushed the ball into Ivanovic but it evaded him, went to
safety and that was that.
This was a poor game with little intensity about it. It was
as if the players were so wary of getting caught up in the media furore that
had been whipped up prior to kick off that they went the other way. There was
hardly a tackle worthy of the name in the tie, compare that to the league game
in October when both sides went at it hell for leather. Truth be told I am not
that concerned that we’re out, obviously I’d rather it wasn’t Chelsea that had
beaten us but with bigger fish to fry it’s a distraction that I don’t think we
needed.
Anton Ferdinand It would have been easy
for Ferdinand to crumble or even ask to sit this one out but he didn’t. He
played and he led the back four superbly.
Kenny – 6; Young – 6, Hall – 7, Ferdinand – 7, Hill – 6;
Mackie – 5, Barton – 7, Buzsaky – 6 (Hulse – 5), Wright-Phillips – 5, Smith –
6, Helguson – 5 (Macheda – 4)
