Liverpool Res 1 Man City Res 1 (Nov 2 2005)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 1 Man City Res 1

Report by Peter Schulz at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Florent Sinama-Pongolle Half Time - 0-1 Venue - The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Wed 2 Nov 2005 Star Man - Florent Sinama-Pongolle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle scored and later got himself sent off as the reds second string fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with an experienced Man City side at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham on Wednesday night.

The Frenchman (copyright Ian St. John) was sent off 5 minutes from the end after he had apparently complained to the linesman over a blatant penalty which was never awarded. Afterwards, he denied having sworn at the linesman.

The Man City line up included such names as Richard Dunne, Ben Thatcher, Trevor Sinclair, Bradley Wright-Phillips and perhaps most interesting of all, Robbie Fowler who wore the number 7 shirt for the sky blues.

For Liverpool Zak Whitbread, Darren Potter and captain David Raven were back after missing last week’s 3-0 defeat to Blackburn having been with the first team squad in London. Jerzy Dudek played his third game since coming back from injury. Again there was no room for young winger Adam Hammill. The U18 side are away to Blackburn on Saturday so it will be interesting to see if he’s included in their squad.

From the start it was easy to see Man City had experience on their side as they looked pretty comfortable letting the reds try to pass their way towards goal. Sinama-Pongolle looked confident on the ball but Liverpool were finding it very difficult to get a sight of Nicky Weaver's goal, possibly because the gargantuan frame of Dunne was blocking their view.

After 7 minutes Man City took the lead. Defender Micah Richards was left with a tap in after Liverpool had failed to clear a corner from the nippy Yasser Hussain, a lively presence on the left wing for the visitors.

Man City had more chances even though it was the reds who were trying to play the nicer football. Robbie Fowler first attempted a trademark chip which was comfortably saved and later in the half he shot wide when he really ought to have done better following Dudek's parry of a shot by Hussain.

Liverpool had not threatened at all, but on the stroke of half time they broke through Sinama-Pongolle following a City corner. His perfect pass into the feet of pacey strike partner Calliste saw the Welshman through on Weaver in the City goal. With just the keeper to beat he stabbed it wide and that was to be the last kick of the half.

Man City brought off Sinclair and Dunne at the break and the reds quickly made them pay. On 50 minutes Danny Guthrie’s glorious right wing cross towards the far post was spilt by Weaver and Sinama-Pongolle was on hand to sidefoot the ball into an empty net. A real poacher’s goal.

The game opened up in the second half as the reds were now looking for a winner. A few minutes later, Sinama-Pongolle was once more involved as he played a brilliant diagonal ball through to Calliste who again lost his composure and missed.

Jack Hobbs came off after 65 minutes to be replaced by Besian Idrizaj who went to the left wing with Darren Potter moving out wide. It was to have a positive effect on the reds game as Potter is really able to dominate games in the middle at this level. He immediately took hold of midfield and began pulling the strings as Liverpool took charge of the game.

Later, Sinama-Pongolle shot wide after a nice one-two with Calliste and the Welshman spurned another great chance as Potter’s lovely curled ball from the inside right sent him clear once again. He’ll know what to work on in training this week will Calliste. At least he got in there to miss them though.

With about 15 minutes to go, Herrera made his final two changes bringing on Mannix for Peltier and Smith for Whitbread in two like for like switches. The reds were looking likely to get a winner now but instead were almost hit on the break.. Sub Marc Laird fired over from close range, but still got a corner somehow.

The controversy, however, was left until 5 minutes from time when Nicky Weaver miskicked and the ball somehow landed at Sinama-Pongolle’s feet. He moved inside the box and was clearly brought down from behind, but the ref waved play on to great frustration to the Frenchman (still Copyright Ian St. John. I’m not daring to criticise him, he might include me in a book).

The linesman took offence to something, or the referee did, and man of the match Florent Sinama-Pongolle was given a straight red and off to the showers he trudged as the reds bench could only watch in disbelief. It was a poor decision not to give the penalty, but I couldn’t hear what was supposed to have been said.

Florent Sinama-Pongolle really is a bit of an enigma because while he looks too good for this level, he has still to make his real breakthrough for the first team. He was, quite simply, excellent in this game. In midfield Darren Potter played well, especially after being moved inside.

At the back, Godwin Antwi was the pick of the bunch, turning in another assured display in a central position. His partner, Danny O’Donnell also had a good game. Captain Raven was strangely subdued though and not playing quite to his usual (high) standard.

Next Tuesday, Neil Mellor is scheduled to make his much anticipated (by some unnamed fanzine editors) return for the reserves when they are away to Aston Villa. We'll have updates at half time and full time from the Bescott Stadium in Walsall, and a full match report will be on this site on Wednesday.


Team: Dudek; Raven, Antwi, O'Donnell, Whitbread (Smith); Guthrie, Hobbs (Idrizaj), Peltier (Mannix), Potter; Calliste, Sinama-Pongolle: