Liverpool Res 1 Newcastle Res 4 (Oct 3 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 1 Newcastle Res 4

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Robbie Fowler Half Time - 0-2 Venue - Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Tue 3 Oct 2006 Star Man - Bolo Zenden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reds’ reserves crashed to a second successive defeat as an Albert Luque brace helped Newcastle United to a 4-1 victory at the Racecourse Ground last night. Gary Ablett named a strong line up featuring several players with bags of first team experience, and also included Nabil El Zhar, a Morroccan u20 international recently signed from St Etienne. Despite the quality on show, the reds just didn’t perform, although the scoreline flattered the Geordies somewhat.

Ablett was without Paul Anderson and Adam Hammill, both on international duty with England u19s, but his line up was boosted by the availability of Dudek, Warnock, Paletta, Zenden, Pennant and Fowler. El Zhar partnered Fowler up front, with Pennant and Robbie Threlfall on the flanks, Zenden and Danny Guthrie in the centre and a back four of Lee Peltier, Miki Roque, Paletta and Warnock.

The only familiar names in the Newcastle line up were Olivier Bernard and Luque, and it was the Spaniard who had the game’s first attempt on goal after 15 minutes, when he tried to lob Dudek from 35 yards. His shot was sweetly struck but Jerzy got back in time to turn the ball over the bar at full stretch.

Luque was a danger every time he had the ball, and the reds’ paid the price of affording him too much time and space on the edge of the box on 24 minutes. He lined up a shot, and the ball took a slight deflection off Roque on its way into the corner of the net.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0, right winger James Troisi cut in from the flank and drilled a shot goalwards. It wasn’t right in the corner of the net, and it appeared to go through Dudek’s hands. It was well struck, but I thought Jerzy should have done better with it.

By this stage, the reds had already been forced into their first substitution, as Peltier had been carried off after three minutes following a block challenge with Newcastle winger Phil Cave. Peltier had gone in strongly – as usual – and had won the ball, but seemed to jar his knee in the challenge and was in a lot of discomfort as he was helped from the field. James Smith replaced him at right back.

Shortly after the second goal, Ablett had to make another change. Warnock had looked uncomfortable for several minutes, and had switched positions with Threlfall. He wasn’t moving freely, and initially I thought he must have had a muscle twinge, but it turns out he was feeling unwell. He was replaced by Stephen Darby, who went to right back with Smith moving over to the left.

Liverpool had seen plenty of the ball, but were not doing enough to test the visiting keeper. El Zhar did very well to climb above the defence and meet Threlfall’s hanging cross, but he couldn’t direct his header and it drifted wide.

Guthrie dragged a shot wide after playing a nice one-two with Fowler, but the closest the reds came to a first half goal was when El Zhar hit the post. It was a great move instigated by Zenden. He swept the ball out wide to Threlfall, and when he crossed the ball in Zenden cleverly dummied it presenting El Zhar with a good opportunity. The ball arrived at his feet fairly quickly and he appeared to try and control the ball and take it away from the keeper all in one movement. He succeeded in taking it away from the keeper, but he got a little too much on it and just couldn’t reach it in time to tap into the empty net. The ball hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

Newcastle should have made it 3-0 just after the break, when Finnigan went clean through on goal only to be denied by a great stop by Dudek.

Liverpool then began to really apply some pressure on the Newcastle goal. El Zhar had a low shot turned wide by the keeper, and minutes later Zenden’s goalbound effort was blocked by a defender. It seemed like a goal was coming, and it was. Unfortunately, it was Newcastle who scored it, completely against the run of play. A free-kick was awarded 30 yards from goal, and Luque hammered a shot into the top corner. A fantastic strike, but harsh on Liverpool.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the reds, and the momentum they had been building was lost. Pennant was replaced by Ryan Flynn on the hour mark. He did ok and worked hard, but as usual he seemed to be drifting infield most of the time and didn’t get too many crosses in. He’s skilful, and can deliver a good ball, but sometimes his decision making isn’t the best.

El Zhar kept plugging away to his credit, and with six minutes to go he came within a whisker of a stunning debut goal. His skill took him away from a couple of challenges, and he unleashed a blistering shot which seemed destined to find the net, but the keeper got the faintest of touches on it to tip it over the bar.

It looked like the reds would never score, but then in the final minute Fowler was left with a tap in after the hard working Zenden’s deep cross had struck the far post and bounced across the face of goal.

The Geordies restored their three goal cushion seconds later when Finnigan got in behind a static defence and blasted the ball past Dudek in stoppage time. 3-1 would have flattered Newcastle slightly, but 4-1 was really rubbing salt in the wounds.

The star man was between Zenden and Guthrie. The Dutchman had a very good first half, whilst skipper for the night Guthrie came to the fore more after the break. There was little to choose between them, but I’m going for Zenden because of the part he played in the goal.

El Zhar had a decent debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him. His touch was good, he’s fairly quick and he worked very hard. He’ll surely get better as he becomes more comfortable with his surroundings.

It’s going to be hard for the players to find any rhythm this season, due to the lack of games the reserves have. The league has been halved in size, and games are very infrequent. We’re in October, and the ressies have only had two games this season. They play again next week, against the blues, and that would be a nice game for Ablett to get that first win under his belt.

Team: Dudek; Peltier (Smith), Roque, Paletta, Warnock (Darby); Pennant (Flynn), Guthrie, Zenden, Threlfall; El Zhar, Fowler: