Blackburn Res 1 Liverpool Res 1 (Dec 11 2006)

[TLW]

Blackburn Res 1 LIVERPOOL RES 1

Report by Dave Usher at Christie Park

Scorer(s) - Danny Guthrie Half Time - 1-1 Venue - Christie Park, Morecambe Date - Mon 11 Dec 2006 Star Man - Danny Guthrie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danny Guthrie hit a superb equaliser as the reds reserves were held to a draw away at Blackburn last night. The game was played in strong winds at Morecambe’s Christie Park, and Gary Ablett’s side had the better of things but were unable to convert their possession into goals. Guthrie levelled a minute before half time, after Godwin Antwi’s bizarre own goal had given Rovers a third minute lead.

Ablett was without injured trio David Mannix, Lee Peltier and Jack Hobbs, but still named a strong looking side including a very attacking midfield quartet of Anderson, Guthrie, Idrizaj and Hammill. Nabil El Zhar lined up just behind Craig Lindfield, whilst the back four was Smith, Roque, Antwi and Threlfall. Dave Martin was in goal.

The reds were first to show, and Guthrie felt he should have had a penalty on two minutes. He drove at the defence and cut inside the full back, who seemed to clip his heel as he entered the box. It could have gone either way, but the referee waved play on.

Rovers went up the other end and were awarded a free kick on the right wing. The ball was played into the edge of the box, and as Antwi hooked his leg around the forward he succeeded only in looping the ball over Martin’s head from 18 yards. Rovers midfielder Thompson claimed it, but from where I was sat it was definitely Godwin who got the decisive touch.

Guthrie and El Zhar were looking lively, and the Moroccan created a chance for Hammill when he forced his way into the penalty area. Hammill was alongside him and took the ball of El Zhar’s toe before drilling a low shot across goal and just wide. Lindfield slid in at the back post but couldn’t quite reach it.

Guthrie and Idrizaj were both booked for late tackles, and the Austrian was walking a tightrope as he disputed several decisions given against him. He didn’t look particularly comfortable in midfield, and I would have introduced either Ryan Flynn or Jay Spearing to play alongside the impressive Guthrie. I could see Idrizaj getting sent off, but Ablett left him on and in the second half he managed to stay out of trouble.

The equalising goal came just before half time. Guthrie played the ball in behind the defence to El Zhar on the right edge of the box, and when Nabil clipped a great ball to the back post, the skipper was on hand to volley the ball in with his left foot. Danny is in great form at the moment, and is now training full time with the likes of Alonso and Gerrard. A new contract is also in the offing for the lad from Telford, and well deserved it is too.

The second half saw the reds’ dominate possession, but chances were few and far between. The wind caused havoc with any cross played into the box, and on several occasions crosses came in from the right towards the strikers, only for the wind to blow the ball back out to the edge of the box behind them.

It was only in the final ten minutes that a goal looked like it might come. El Zhar had a good effort when he cut in from the right wing and went past a couple of tacklers before hitting a low left foot shot that was saved at full stretch by the Rovers keeper. Ablett had made some tactical changes at half time, with El Zhar switching to the right, Anderson moving to the opposite flank and Hammill moving forward to partner Lindfield. It didn’t make a great deal of difference, and Rovers were pretty comfortable at the back for most of the game.

So were the reds, and Martin had very little to do all game. He made one smart save at the feet of Joe Garner, but other than that he was a spectator. The back four played very well, especially Miki Roque who was the pick of the defence for me. Threlfall had a fine game at left back, and got forward often, especially in the second half when Ablett pushed his full backs right up the pitch as the reds camped in Blackburn’s half for long periods.

Guthrie was the star man, just ahead of Roque and Threlfall.

Team: Martin; Smith, Roque, Antwi, Threlfall; Anderson, Guthrie, Idrizaj, Hammill; El Zhar, Lindfield: