Liverpool Res 2 Wigan Res 0 (Mar 13 2007)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 2 Wigan Res 0

Report by Pete Schulz at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) Besian Idrizaj (2) Half Time – 0 -0 Venue – Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Date - Tue 13 Mar 2007 Star Man – Jack Hobbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second half substitute Besian Idrizaj grabbed a late brace as Liverpool reserves beat a strong Wigan side 2-0, but it was the performance of Jack Hobbs at centre half which caught the eye at the Racecourse Ground last night. The visitors fielded several first team stars such as Arjen De Zeeuw, Paul Scharner, Andreas Johansson and former Championship Manager legend Julius Aghahowa. The latter two were well dealt with by Hobbs and his central defensive partner Ronald Huth.

Liverpool lined up with Italian goalkeeper Daniele Padelli in goal, and the centre backs had Emiliano Insua to their left and Stephen Darby to their right. In central midfield were U18’s heroes Jay Spearing and Ryan Flynn (both playing in different positions for the youth team, however) had Paul Anderson and Nabil El Zhar on either side. Up front, Craig Lindfield was partnered by Dutchman Jordy Brouwer.

Liverpool’s first chance fell in the very first minute when Flynn scuffed his shot from the edge of the box and El Zhar’s follow up went wide from close range. Soon afterwards, however, it was Wigan who began to take control of the game.

The centre back pairing of Granqvist and De Zeeuw had the beating of Lindfield and especially Brouwer in the air, and David Cotterill gave Insua a hard time at the other end.

Around midway through the half, El Zhar began to show why he was given his debut in the first team earlier in the season. First he had a stabbed effort saved by the fingertips of Saunders in the Wigan goal and a little later, his shot on the turn from 25 yards fizzed inches wide of Saunders’ post.

The ever industrious Lindfield wanted in on the act but his shot from the same distance following good work by Huth dipped just too late to test Saunders. Further chances fell to Flynn and Spearing but both blasted wide.

Gary Ablett made no changes at half time and the opening of the second half was fairly quiet. Wigan had the ball in the net on the hour mark as Johansson beat Padelli in the air, but the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Midway through the half, Ablett introduced Idrizaj for the disappointing Brouwer and the change was to prove decisive. Two minutes later, the Austrian opened the scoring with his first touch when Lindfield headed a great Insua freekick back across goal and presented an unmissable chance for the forward.

Minutes later, the Austrian picked the ball up on the edge of his own box following a Wigan corner and he carried it the full length of the pitch displaying the power and pace we really have seen far too little of from him during his time here. In the end he cut inside onto his right and smashed a shot against the far post from the edge of the area.

Insua’s deadball delieveries were excellent and two minutes later, the ball was snatched away from Craig Lindfield again at the back post. The wait for the clincher wasn’t going to be long as Idrizaj hit his second following another Insua corner. Jack Hobbs got above everyone else to head towards goal and it ended up with Idrizaj who headed it across the line with nine minutes to go.

There was to be no more goalmouth action as the reds hung on comfortably against an experienced Wigan side. Paul Jewell must be wondering what it is going to take to beat Liverpool reserves who have now done consecutive doubles over their Wigan counterparts.

Defensively, the reds were superb, with new signing Ronald Huth looking more at home at the back. None, however, were in Hobbs’ class. The central defender really looked accomplished and it is obvious that Paco Herrera’s insistence on playing him in midfield last season has really paid off. Hobbs was awesome at the back all night.

The reserves’ next game is next Thursday when they take on Blackburn Rovers at the Racecourse Ground.

Team: Padelli; Darby, Hobbs, Huth, Insua; Anderson, Spearing (Barnett), Flynn, El Zhar (Burns); Lindfield, Brouwer (Idrizaj):