Liverpool Res 4 West Brom Res 0 (Apr 27 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 4 West Brom Res 0

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Besian Idrizaj (2), Danny Guthrie, Craig Lindfield Half Time - 1-0 Venue - Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Thu 27 Apr 2006 Star Man - Besian Idrizaj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reds reserves produced one of their best displays of the season to hammer West Brom 4-0 at the Racecourse Ground last night. Having played very poorly just three days earlier whilst suffering a heavy defeat at Aston Villa, Paco Herrera rang the changes to great effect, as the Baggies were blown away by a display of exciting attacking football.

The ressies have been playing a conservative 4-2-3-1 formation for most of the season, with two holding midfield players (they actually had three holding players against Villa!) and a lone striker, but for this game the line up was much more attacking and the players seemed very comfortable with it.

Out of the side which played at Villa went Danny O’Donnell (presumably injured) and Jack Hobbs (rested), with attackers Robbie Foy and Besian Idrizaj coming in. That meant a backline of Barragan, Roque, Antwi and Smith lined up behind a midfield quartet of Anderson, Peltier, Guthrie and Foy, with Idrizaj and Calliste in attack.

The midfield had a much better balance to it, with Guthrie allowed to break forward and link with the wingers and strikers, as Peltier sat in winning the ball and dictated the play. Both were absolutely tremendous on the night.

Liverpool started well and Foy drilled a shot inches wide after a quick free from Guthrie. A mininute later the opening goal arrived from a got off to a fantastic a somewhat unlikely source. Idrizaj has had a tough first season at the club and has struggled for the most part. He looked a different player in this game however, and at last showed the kind of form which made him Austria’s young player of the year last season.

‘Bez’ collected the ball on halfway and burst through a static Albion defence before showing great composure to casually stroke the ball past the keeper. We haven’t seen anything like that from him since his first game for the reserves earlier this season. For the rest of the half he was exceptional and gave Albion a lot of problems.

Two minutes after going in front Liverpool should have doubled their advantage when Guthrie capitalised on a defensive mix up, but he shot narrowly over from 18 yards. Foy then hit another superb drive from distance which was just too high, as Liverpool ran riot in the early stages.

Idrizaj almost added a second after 24 minutes when he rose highest to met Foy’s corner and crashed a header against the crossbar. That’s a part of his game that we have seen before, as he’s very good in the air.

Albion had offered nothing at all in attack, despite fielding promising duo Rob Elvins and Stuart Nicholson up front. Both are England youth internationals I believe, and Nicholson scored twice and really looked the part in a game at the reds’ Academy earlier this season. Antwi and Roque kept them very quiet in this game however.

Elvins did have a chance to level the scores when hesitation between Roque and keeper David Martin allowed him to nip in, but he couldn’t direct his shot and it went wide. Barragan had been very quiet in the opening half, but he burst into life a minute before the break when he surged into the penalty area and unleashed a shot which was just turned around the post by the Albion keeper.

The Baggies had included some experienced players in their side, such as Inamoto, Carter and Kozak. Ibrahim Sissoko, younger brother of Momo was also in their starting line up. Momo was in the crowd watching him, and although it was a tough game for the youngster he showed the same kind of energy and work rate that his brother is renowned for.

Liverpool’s midfield ran all over Albion’s, and Inamoto just wasn’t arsed at all. A lot of teams don’t bother including senior squad players in these games any more, and Inamoto provided the perfect example of why this is. Here is a player that has played at a very high level and excelled in the last world cup, but he was totally overshadowed by Peltier and Guthrie.

It was Guthrie who doubled the reds’ advantage four minutes after the break. A good build up saw Idrizaj flick the ball into the midfielders path 35 yards from goal, but Danny didn’t quite have the pace to get away from the last defender who got his body in front and tried to shepherd the ball back to his keeper. Guthrie kept harrying him and when the keeper was slow to come out he managed to stick a toe out and divert the ball into the net. Just reward for some excellent persistence.

Seven minutes later it was 3-0, as Liverpool hit Albion with a classic counter attack. Barragan brought the ball out of defence and played a measured ball down the line to Calliste. Idrizaj was in the centre on the back post, but there was a defender blocking the way so Calliste had to carry the ball to the byline. By the time he got there, Idrizaj had cleverly created space and peeled away from the defender, and when Calliste picked him out he finished neatly for his second of the game and third of the season.

Liverpool continued to play some mesmerising football at times, with Guthrie a joy to watch and Foy producing one of his liveliest appearances for the second string. Foy’s pace, skill and close control had Albion’s right back in knots all evening, and twice he created clear headed opportunities for Anderson with pinpoint crosses, but the former Hull youngster narrowly missed the target on both occasions.

Antwi thought he’d scored his first goal for the reserves when he headed in from close range, but the referee had seen a handball from Idrizaj and ruled it out. Godwin was gutted, as he’d let out a big ‘yeeeeeesssssssss’ before the ball had even hit the net! Gotta love big Godwin.

Paco Herrera took the opportunity to give three of the FA Youth Cup winning side a run out in the second half. First, Lindfield replaced Calliste, and later Ryan Flynn came on for Guthrie and Anderson made way for Robbie Threlfall.

Idrizaj almost grabbed his hat-trick when he diverted Foy’s cross towards goal but the ball went narrowly wide. Foy himself went close when he showed lovely control to take Peltier’s sweeping crossfield pass into his stride and ran into the box, but his shot was well blocked.

Lindfield should have claimed his first reserve goal with five minutes remaining when Barragan’s searching deep cross found him unmarked at the back post, but he headed disappointingly over the bar. He didn’t have to wait long for a chance to make amends, as seconds later Threlfall’s pass sent him clear and he showed great pace and strength to hold off the defender as well as a cool head to slot the ball past the keeper.

Craig has looked a threat any time he’s been given a run out from the bench, and I’d like to see him start the final two games as he’s really blossomed this season. The reserves have struggled a little up front this season, but next year should see Lindfield become a regular.

This was a really good performance, and some of the football was sensational. Guthrie was the brains behind it, and he was involved in everything before he was given a well earned rest 15 minutes from time. His partnership with Peltier worked really well, and hopefully we’ll see more of this more attacking line up in the remaining two games.

Anderson and Foy gave the side a threat down each flank, whilst in the second half Barragan’s attacking play was superb. The reds went at Albion from all angles, and David Martin didn’t have to make a save all night.

I’m going for Idrizaj as the star man, as he took both of his goals very well and set up Guthrie for his goal. Guthrie and Foy were possibly more impressive overall, but this was good stuff from Bez and it was nice to see him showing some form at last.

For exclusive photo's from this game, click here

Team: Martin; Barragan, Antwi, Roque, Smith; Anderson (Threlfall 81), Peltier, Guthrie (Flynn 75), Foy; Idrizaj, Calliste (Lindfield 67):