Liverpool Res 1 Villa Res 1 (Mar 23 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 1 Villa Res 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Robbie Foy Half Time - 0-0 Venue - The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Thu 23 Mar 2006 Star Man - Danny Guthrie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mass stoppage time brawl was the highlight of Liverpool Reserves' 1-1 draw with an overly physical Aston Villa side at the Racecourse Ground last night. Three players were red carded after the melee, two from Villa plus Liverpool’s Lee Peltier. The reds midfielder had been on the receiving end of some shocking challenges all night, and after a disgraceful assault by Isaiah Osbourne Peltier finally snapped and leapt to his feet and started swinging.

Villa had signalled their intentions early on, when left back Lowry went in high and late on Peltier in the opening minute. It was a horrible tackle and should have resulted in a red card. It happened on the far side of the pitch, but we heard the impact over in the stand on the opposite side. Peltier needed lengthy treatment, and for the next ten or fifteen minutes Paco Herrera was contemplating a change as the 18 year old hobbled around the field. Peltier is made of stern stuff however and was determined to continue, and eventually he ran it off.

Lowry didn’t even get a yellow card for the challenge, and that was a sign of things to come as the referee continually allowed things to go without the correct punishment.

Peltier isn’t one to back down from physical battles, and I expected him to take retribution at the first opportunity. The Lee Peltier I’ve watched at the Academy in the last couple of years would have got his own back within minutes, but to his credit Lee just got on with the game and ignored any thoughts he may have had of revenge. He did make one crunching challenge on Lowry, but he won the ball cleanly and there was no suggestion of a foul.

The reds were the better side throughout the contest, but didn’t create too many clear cut openings. Herrera went with a 3-5-2 formation which saw Miki Roque drop back into the backline after impressing in midfield on in Monday night’s win over Wigan. Paul Anderson was replaced by Peltier, and Ramon Calliste came in for Robbie Fowler in an otherwise unchanged side.

Danny Guthrie was given a roaming role behind Calliste and Foy, and it was from his excellent cross that Foy should have opened the scoring on seven minutes, but his half volley went narrowly over the bar. Guthrie was involved in everything, and Foy was looking very lively too.

Calliste had two shots from just outside the box easily saved by the Villa keeper, the first after good play by Guthrie and the second after a strong surge down the left by the once more rock solid James Smith.

Guthrie then crashed a curling 25 yard free-kick against the post as Liverpool made all of the early running, but as the half wore on the visitors got more into it. Villa wasted a great chance to go in front when centre forward Tobias Mikaelsson put a free header wide, and Whittingham hit the outside of the post with a 30 yard thunderbolt.

Liverpool had most of the second half possession, but were still finding it difficult to create any clear openings. Guthrie had several efforts from distance, none of which seriously tested the keeper.

Even in the early stages it had been noticeable that Villa had some snidey players in the side, none more so than pint sized forward Scott Bridges. His only contribution to the game was to constantly leave his foot in on people, kick people when they were on the floor and constantly get in the referee’s face.

As the second half progressed his behaviour got worse and worse. He’d regularly been niggling at Godwin Antwi and had left his foot in several times on the reds defender. He was getting no change out of Antwi, and his frustration boiled over when the big Ghanaian used his body to sheperd the ball out of play. Bridges bundled him over, and then kicked him in the back as he lay on the floor. All this happened in full view of the linesman, yet only a yellow card was awarded.

Antwi is as easy going a lad as you’ll find, and even under this kind of provocation still didn’t lose his rag. That was lucky for Bridges, as had big Godwin gotten angry they’d still be picking up iddy biddy pieces of the Villa lad from the Wrexham turf for weeks to come.

The Liverpool players had done well to keep their composure, and they were rewarded midway through the half when Guthrie found space in midfield and delivered a wonderful ball behind the Villa defence to pick out Foy’s well times run. The Scotland u21 striker finished smartly with his right foot to claim his second goal in a week for the reserves. Foy has looked a much improved player since returning from his loan spell at Wrexham, and he was always a threat against Villa.

Sadly for the reds, having worked so hard to get the lead, they relinquished it within four minutes. Great play down the left by Kabeya saw him cut the ball back to Bridges, who predictably missed his kick completely only for the ball to reach Lund who blasted the ball past a helpless David Martin.

Liverpool tried to rally, but Villa became increasingly physical. Peltier and Osbourne were both booked after a bit of pushing and shoving, and Guthrie was crudely sythed down by Herd as he led a counter attack. Again, a red card wouldn’t have been overly harsh but the referee opted for a yellow.

Guthrie had taken exception to the challenge and had shoved the Villa substitute, prompting former red Kevin McDonald (Villa’s reserve coach) to yell at the referee about players ‘raising their hands’. It seems in his eyes it’s ok to try and cut someone in half or kick people when they lay on the floor, but if you shove someone in the chest that’s a different matter. Prick. I never liked him anyway because he ran like a duck and he kept McMahon out of the FA Cup side in 86.

The second half had been like a time bomb waiting to explode, and it was no great shock when it all kicked off in stoppage time. Osbourne’s challenge on Peltier was x-rated to say the least, and understandably Peltier finally snapped. He leapt to his feet and flew at Osbourne with fists flying. Osbourne was swinging too, and the pair couldn’t be dragged apart and they ended up rolling around the floor.

It was funny to see every outfield player get involved, but even funnier to see Ramon Calliste in there too. He’d been subbed 12 minutes earlier but charged from the bench to get stuck in. The referee kept giving four quick toots of whistle over and over, as he tried to restore order. He sounded like an alarm clock, and it was pretty comical stuff.

When the dust settled, Peltier was given the first red card, quickly followed by Osbourne and then Bridges. I didn’t see what Bridges actually did as so much was happening it was impossible to focus on any individuals, but the red card was about 25 minutes too late as far as I’m concerned.

I don’t blame Lee in any way for his reaction, as there’s only so much anyone can be expected to tolerate and Osbourne’s disgusting lunge was the final straw. Lee was giving up a significant height advantage to the Villa man, but these things don’t concern him. He’s fearless and I remember seeing him square up to an opponent who was about a foot taller than him in an Academy game a couple of years ago.

As Osbourne left the field, he got into a bit of verbals with Foy, and from where we were sat it appeared that Robbie offered him out after the game! Osbourne said something back, and Foy replied “So why are ye fuckin cryin then?” It was funny stuff, especially as Foy is even smaller than Peltier.

The final whistle followed soon after, as the referee clearly wanted to get the game over with before anything else happened. He was largely responsible for the whole mess anyway. Had he red carded Lowry to begin with, he could have nipped it in the bud.

Liverpool’s players do not usually get involved in this kind of thing, but I doubt if Herrera or McAuley will be too upset with them. I suspect they’ll be happy with the way the lads stuck together, and none of our players have anything to be ashamed of from what I saw.

I don’t know why Villa were as physical as they were, and as far as I’m aware there’s no history between the sets of players. They definitely appeared to target Peltier however, and it will be interesting to see what happens next time the sides meet.

The star man could have been any of the back three, who all performed well. Foy was dangerous, and Smith did well in an unaccustomed wing back role. I’m giving it to Guthrie though because of the creativity he brought to the side. He’s really blossoming this season is Danny, and he’s starting to look a really talented player.


Team: Martin; Antwi, Roque, O’Donnell; Barragan, Peltier, Hobbs, Smith; Guthrie; Calliste (Lindfield), Foy: