Liverpool Res 2 Middlesbrough Res 3 (Oct 19 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 2 Boro Res 3

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Besian Idrizaj, Craig Lindfield Half Time - 1-1 Venue - Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Thu 19 Oct 2006 Star Man - Paul Anderson

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was another tale of what might have been for Gary Ablett's Liverpool reserve side, as they went down to a 3-2 home defeat to Middlesbrough despite playing some of their best football of the season so far. In an entertaining clash at the Racecourse Ground, Boro's superior finishing was the difference, but there were a lot of positives for Ablett to take from the game.

For the first time this season he had the luxury of choosing from an almost full strength squad. Paul Anderson, Adam Hammill and Craig Lindfield returned to the squad after missing the last two games through international duty with England u19s, whilst Besian Idrizaj was back after playing for Austria u21s.

Dave Martin started in goal, and I doubt we'll see much of Dudek in the reserves for the rest of the season after his costly sending off in the mini-derby. Benitez doesn't like using his senior players in reserve games at the best of times, but the ridiculously harsh treatment of Dudek from an over-officious referee and then the FA will surely mean even less reserve outings for his senior players.

That's good news for Ablett's young charges of course, as it means they'll feature in more games. It was a young side that faced Boro, but they performed encouragingly for most of the game. The defence were uncharacteristically shaky at times, especially Lee Peltier at right back who was way below par. He wasn't himself at all, but it emerged later that he'd been feeling unwell and he was withdrawn in the second half.

The central defenders were Jack Hobbs and Miki Roque, and although they didn't play badly, they had a lot of trouble with Boro striker Tom Craddock, who hit a hat-trick against the reds last season and managed two more in this game.

James Smith began the game at left back, before switching to the right when Peltier went off, and he turned in his customary solid display. Usually the defence is the strong point of the reserve side, and it's going forward where the weaknesses are most prominent. In the last couple of seasons scoring goals has been a huge problem, but when Ablett has all his players available he does have some good attacking options at his disposal.

For this game he went with Lindfield and Idrizaj up front, with Nabil El Zhar on the right and Anderson on the left. Hammill was on the bench, but will surely feature in the next game after a dazzling cameo appearance against Boro.

David Mannix and Danny Guthrie were in the centre of midfield, and they dictated the game for long spells. It's a well balanced pair, as Mannix likes to sit in midfield and spray the ball around and Guthrie loves to bomb forward.

Liverpool started the game well, and should have gone in front after 11 minutes. Idrizaj did well on the right and drilled a ball across the face of goal towards Lindfield. If he'd gotten anything on it he'd have scored, but he missed his kick and the ball rolled wide.

Five minutes later a superb move saw Guthrie send Idrizaj away on the right again. He cut the ball back perfectly into the path of the supporting El Zhar, but he took too much time before getting his shot in and it was half blocked by a defender, which took the power off it. Lindfield was inches away from getting a touch as the ball rolled across the face of goal.

The lively Paul Anderson was giving former red Abel Xavier a stern test on his comeback following a drugs ban, and after 17 minutes the winger cut inside Xavier and got a powerful shot in but it was well blocked by a defender.

It was all Liverpool, and three minutes later Guthrie turned cleverly on halfway and drove at the Boro defence before shaving a post with a low shot from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Liverpool found themselves a goal down totally against the run of play. Owens picked the ball up on the left and shaped to cross. Peltier sold himself comletely anticipating the cross, and Owens skipped past him and drove to the byline before cutting the ball across for Craddock to open the scoring with a simple finish.

It didn't take the reds long to level the scores, just two minutes in fact. Idrizaj bustled his way into the area, and although initially it seemed like he'd lost possession he won it back and was then tripped. He picked himself up to take the pen himself, and even though his initial kick was saved, the rebound fell kindly for the Austrian and he made no mistake this time.

'Bez' was then involved in an unsavoury incident on the far touchline when his late lunge left Boro left back Anthony McMahon screaming in pain. I could hear the lad's cries from over on the opposite side of the ground, and he was stretchered off with what was almost certainly a broken leg. Idrizaj was fortunate to escape any kind of card, as it looked a bad one.

Owens and Craddock were giving the reds' defence plenty to think about, and on 26 minutes they almost produced a carbon copy of the opening goal. Owens cut the ball back to his striker, but this time Martin made a great save to turn the ball over the bar.

The second half started with Mannix trying his luck from distance a couple of times, both were beautifuly struck but were too high.

Six minutes into the half Craddock collected the ball on the left, and was given far too much room to run at the defence. He cut inside Hobbs and hit a low shot that clipped the reds' skipper on it's way past Martin to make it 2-1 to Boro.

The reds didn't have time to make any response as almost immediately it was 3-1. Roque and Hobbs both went for the same bouncing ball, and collided heavily leaving Boro with three players bearing down on Martin's goal and only Smith desperately trying to get back to cover. Craddock looked odds on to claim his hat-trick, but Smith got across to make it difficult for him so he slid the ball ssideways to his strike partner Graham who was left with a tap in.

It looked like game over, but immediately from the kick off the reds went up the field and scored. I think it was Anderson who got to the byline on the right (it could have been El Zhar) and drilled in a cross which was sent looping into the air by a defender. Lindfield steadied himself and produced a neat overhead kick to beat Boro keeper Ross Turnbull.

Five minutes after that the reds lost keeper Martin through injury. He'd come racing out of his goal to head away a through ball, and was caught high and late by Craddock. The striker raised his foot and caught the keeper on the hip. After a few minutes of trying to shake it off, Martin seemed to get worse and was groggily helped from the field by the physio.

It was a strange one, as although he limped off holding his hip, he didn't seem to have all his senses instact and gave the impression of a player who had suffered a head injury. He certainly looked dazed, and it took him a long time to leave the field.

With Dudek due to start a suspension after the game at Old Trafford, the reds are dangerously short of goalkeeping cover with only Dave Roberts left to back up Reina. Roberts replaced Martin, and did very well. He was called into action within a couple of minutes when Craddock went through again but the keeper saved with his feet and sent the ball looping over the bar.

Threlfall was then introduced for the unwell Peltier, and shortly after Hammill replaced Lindfield. That was a strange substitution as Lindfield still looked a threat whereas Idrizaj had not been involved at all in the second half.

Hammill went to the left, with Anderson moving to his more accustomed position on the right. El Zhar went central. Hammill wasted no time in making his presence felt. The first time he got the ball he ran at Xavier, beating him with a double step over and crossing for Anderson who's diving header went just wide.

Hammill caused problems every time he got the ball, and he almost caught the keeper out with a looping long range effort. It looked like it would drp in the far corner but Turnbull just got a touch on it to palm it out, and Idrizaj put the rebound into the side netting at full stretch.

Threlfall then hit a stunning drive from 30 yards which flew past the keeper and crashed back off the post. It was desperately unlucky, but that's how things are going for Ablett's side this season.

Defeat was harsh, but it was down to defensive lapses. Four straight defeats isn't the start that Ablett would have wanted, but he has a good group of young players to work with and it's only a matter of time before the results turn around.

Star man was Paul Anderson. He never stopped running and had the beating of both Boro full backs. With the League Cup on the horizon, the youngster dropped a big hint to Rafa that he's in good form and ready for a call up.

Guthrie and Mannix did well in midfield, Lindfield was a threat up front and El Zhar's skill and workrate again impressed. Hammill was sensational when he came on, and all of these lads will be hoping for a chance against Reading.

Team: Martin (Roberts); Peltier (Threlfall), Roque, Hobbs, Smith; El Zhar, Guthrie, Mannix, Anderson; Idrizaj, Lindfield (Hammill):