My lad was unduly pessimistic during our drive to the game yesterday. He is usually the one who stops me from being to negative before games, but he really seemed to have given in to the dark side. However, whilst enjoying a quick lunch prior to the early kick off, we got the team up on his phone and his mood immediately improved. "I like that side" we both almost said together................and Charlie's starting. All good and no criticism of Harry for that line up, as imo it was just about the best side he could put out considering injuries. So the game began and BANG!!............ **** me, we only went and scored inside 2 minutes!! A nice little move ended with a stinging, swerving shot from Carroll which the keeper only managed to parry and Benyoun swooped in to head Rangers ahead from close range. The atmosphere was good before the game and now it got even better. For the next 15 minutes or so Rangers completely ran the show, with Hoilett looking dangerous, linking well with Morrison and Carroll and Jenas making everything tick from the centre of the park. Unfortunately the man of glass only lasted for those few minutes before his calf tightened yet again. His departure brought on the dependable Carl Henry, but the dynamic in the centre for Rangers was changed and not for the better. Forest gradually got themselves into the game and it was no surprise when they equalised around 10 minutes before the break. Dunne, who was playing well and looking more like the player he was for the first half of the season, completely mis-timed a header and gave away a very cheap corner. Austin, looking understandably rusty and a bit off the pace, lost his man and the resulting free header was planted firmly into the net. To Rangers' credit they came again and following good work from Simpson, Hoilett played a little give and go with the impressive Tom Carroll, getting a little help on its way from the equally impressive Benayoun and the Canadian buried the ball in the net from a difficult angle. Ekotto was keeping Mackie, who got a rousing reception from the Rangers fans, very quiet and having his best game for some time. Half time arrived and we hoped for more of the same. However, the 2nd half saw Rangers start slowly and Forest gained more and more control of the game. Morrison became more and more frustrated as Rangers seemed incapable of keeping the ball. Henry was doing a good job in front of the back 4 but it only seemed a matter of time before Forest scored again. They did!! Rangers were looking pathetically vulnerable from corners and Simpson had to head off the line from yet another free header. However, Redknapp then decided to make a substitution. (A schoolboy error to make a change just before defending a set piece!). Zamora came on to replace Austin who was blowing out of his arse, but had completed 75mins towards his goal of match fitness. The corner came across, this time Simpson lost his man and Forest were level from another free header. Terrible, terrible defending all round! It was Forest who were looking the more likely to win now as Kranjcar was sent on in place of the injured (FFS!!) Hoilett. But, Rangers started to turn it on again for these final 15 minutes or so. with Kranjcar playing some neat passes, whilst still getting caught in possession now and then. A clever header from Ekotto, following a superb diagonal pass from Henry, released Morrison down the left who produced an audacious chip which the keeper managed to just keep out. Unfortunately Zamora could only hit the post with the follow up from a very tight angle. Zamora was making a big difference, looking sharp and winning headers. Rangers were building more and more pressure now. A deep cross from Henry was brilliantly kept in play by Onuoha who hooked the ball back to Morrison. He played the ball inside to Carroll who played a lovely, neat ball back to Onuoha who, without taking a touch, unleashed an unstoppable 85th minute drive into the far corner of the net. Cue unbridled celebrations in the loft and around the ground. However, there was still time for Rangers to show yet again that the Wally Downes defensive coaching from corners is definitely not working! Yet another free header from another corner could have been the equaliser for Forest, if it hadn't been for a very good save from Green, who got down well to his left and clung on to the ball. This time it was Dunne who had lost his man. Loftus Road was very, very nervy!! Those nerves were quickly blown away though as Rangers scored two goals in quick succession in the final minutes. First, Henry again produced a good ball, this time into the right channel for Zamora who showed a surprising turn of pace to get to the ball first. He cleverly cut inside after brushing the defender aside and set up Morrison around the penalty spot. Surrounded by three defenders, Morrison really showed his class as he turned one way before turning back to place the ball beyond the keeper. Then, with the crowd enjoying a mixture of relief and surprised pleasure Rangers added their fifth. Another good move, starting with a good lay off from Zamora and a crisp ball from Benayoun into Morrison. He ran away from the defender before playing a delightful ball back into Zamore who had made a determined run into the middle. Zamora rather luckily put the ball away off his shin as the ball bounced into the ground and then away from the keeper to complete the win. It was no more than Bobby's cameo deserved though. So, although the score line was harsh on Forest, it's a great result for Rangers at this time in the season. I think we need Clint back to sort out that defending from corners and Dunne, who on the whole had a better game than of late, really needs a rest imo. Get Barton and Traore back, along with the likes of Hoilett and Jenas and Austin match fit and we really do have a great chance of winning the play offs. Player ratings and scores: Green - 7 - Some good saves, especially the one near the end. Simpson - 7 - Lost his man for one of the goals, but headed one of the line and looks to be getting back to his best. Dunne - 6 - A much better game than of late and won many headers throughout. However, he always looks like an accident waiting to happen these days and gave away a very cheap corner for their first goal and lost his man for the late header that Green saved. Also nearly gave Forest a late chance when he mis-judged a header again. Onuoha - 7 - Great goal, but looked rusty. Needs games. BAE - 7 - A much better game. Played a great ball across for Austin and had Mackie in his pocket. Jenas - 5 - On course to possibly be MOTM before another injury. Carroll - 9 - MOTM. Knitted everything together brilliantly and had a hand in 3 of the goals. His best display for us so far. Hoilett - 8 - Another good, attacking display and a very good goal. Bloody injured again though!! Benayoun - 8 - Very good game throughout. Worked hard and passed the ball well. His best game so far also. Scored too. Morrison - 8 - Did very little for three quarters of the game but then came alive for the last quarter and really showed his class, scoring one and making another. Brilliant chip also. Austin - 6 - Looks a fair bit off being match fit yet, but that 75 minutes will have done him the world of good. Needs a few more like that before the semis!! Subs: Henry - 7 - Some good passes and protected the back four well. A really good foil for Carroll. Zamora - 7 - Made a real difference when he came on. Won headers, looked sharp and made one goal and scored another (I know, I know!! ) Kranjcar - 6 - Still looks slow as hell, but played some good passes at times. Thoughts?
Great report Col...I agree Still would give MOM to Benny, he was just so much trouble to Forest, so keen, so much running...just what we have been lacking going forward Charlie needs more match time...and he will be back Read that Joey is 3 bookings away from a three match ban...do you think that is why he is not playing much part at the moment, no need too rush him back
Great read Col. Thanks. It was lovely to re-live the experience. It's all coming together nicely for the playoffs.
Goof report Col but just need you to edit Henry's 7 to a 8 ... he was very good yesterday ... Highlights ... simple platform fir all the team to play from Crossed for Nedum's header prior to goal and played in BZ very intelligently (into the corner for Morrison's 4th) Great player he has been for us and IMO a league above Barton
For my money Joey Barton has proven himself to be a very good SBC player. By your reckoning Henry has been a league above - EPL standard. Praise indeed, DT Footspa.
Enjoyable report Col, many thanks. Jenas' injury seemed to completely knock us off kilter in the first half, as you say a totally different dynamic in the centre, and we only really recovered when Kranjcar and Zamora were introduced. Catching Forest on the break twice in injury time gave the final score a very healthy gloss, but I was just wondering, and obviously it is totally irrelevant question, how many of the points out of 10 you gave would have been 1, or maybe even 2, lower had the match ended 10 minutes earlier?
The marks would have been much lower and the mood much darker mate. That's football though eh? Take your chances and win well and most things are forgiven and forgotten. Miss those chances, play brilliantly, but lose and you're bleedin' useless. As it happens, I think we actually played very well in the periods when Forest weren't dominating. We looked dangerous and likely to score in those periods and that makes a nice change. I also can't quite believe the change in BZ!! BTW.............I'm at the Watford game now, after thinking it was on the Tuesday night and then realising that it's Easter Monday afternoon!!
Morning Col. It was really good to see both those things. I took a Forest fan with me and he was very gracious in defeat but noted that we were not very good from set pieces!
Were you with the same Forest fan I was with...who was also gracious in defeat? He was saddened by their plight...as they were on such a roll before "Billy Davis blew the bleeding doors off" and said he also said that we need to sort out the corners....as it will cost us. He rightly said, they looked a bit more likely to score the winner than we were....and how would we have felt then.... Its a funny old game footy!
Good report as usual, Col. We have to sort the problems with set pieces obviously, but what encouraged me was the response after Forest's second goal. There was a real desire to win, the like of which has been lacking for much of this season. If the team build on that, and with Charlie, Joey and possibly Clint back, I'm feeling more optimistic about prospects in the play-offs. Would be wonderful if we could find form at the right time
Well judging on our performance on the defensive set pieces Saturday, we are in desparate need to have Clint back. Is he likely to be out long do you know? Thanks for the report Col, pretty much as I saw it too.
Excellent write up but ludicrous player ratings if you don't mind me saying: - Morrison was shocking for a lot of the game, just looking for free kicks and trouble rather than supporting Austin. He spurned one really good chance in the second half by going down in the box when we had 3 waiting to receive a tap across the goal. - Carroll was influential but was playing too high up the pitch most of the time. With Barton still missing and Jenas limping off we badly needed someone to collect the ball when we were playing out of defence. - The value of Dunne was more obvious with the absence of Clint but so was his weakness. Any defence that looks so ridiculously vulnerable at corners must look to its centre backs. And the joke is we had nailed this problem 100% at the start of the season. - Benayoun probably sneaks MoM for me but probably with a 6 or 7 rating. I didn't see any 8s.
The amnesty is for 10 cautions but if you reach 15 you will get a further (3 match?) suspension. Very good report col.
