[Liverweb] Reserves Match Report

Liverweb Reserves Match Report

Match Report Courtesy and Copyright AdamS

Liverpool 2 Wigan Athletic 0

Liverpool : Martin, Barragan, Smith, Antwi, O'Donnell, Roque,
Anderson, Hobbs, Fowler, Guthrie, Foy

Subs Used : Calliste for Fowler (45), Flynn for Roque (81),
Lindfield for Guthrie (84)

Unused Subs : Woods, Lancaster

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I was accompanied to The Racecourse ground for tonights reserve
fixture by a Finnish Red and the weather must have made him feel at
home. It was bitterly cold. Also making an appearance was Robbie
Fowler who can't be involved for the first team tomorrow as he's cup
tied. The other notable name in the line up was Micky Roque, notable
because he was playing in centre midfield. He was outstanding though
and turned in a man of the match performance as The Reds ran out
deserved 2-0 winners.

As is often the case at this level there was a slow start to the
game. The first twenty minutes saw only one decent opportunity.
Hobbs won the ball in midfield in the fourth minute and played in
Foy, he cut inside his man and shot low and with power. Despite
Roque cheering "Yeah" Foy's shot was just wide of the keepers
upright.

Twenty minutes later and Wigan should have taken the lead. Johannson
was provided with a great opportunity to score but managed to
somehow shoot over from three yards. The game was beginning to
develop and Liverpool should really have created a goal scoring
opportunity as they broke with three men against two. Foy slipped in
Guthrie who was having a quiet night so far. Guthrie checked back
when he may have been better advised to run in on goal and the
momentum was lost.

Robbie Fowler who had spent much of the evening practising energy
conservation burst into life on the half hour mark. He broke in from
the left wing, beat his man and was unlucky not to find the orange
tanned Foy with a low cross.

Towards the latter stages of the half Wigan started to take control.
Godwin was booked on 35 minutes for a foul just outside the box and
five minutes later the hapless Johannson managed to miss one of the
easiest headers you are ever likely to see. This time he was all of
two yards out.

In the last minute of the half Liverpool were unlucky not to take
the lead. Guthrie fed Foy who turned brilliantly and shot low to the
keepers left. Walsh managed to tip the ball around the post for a
corner. Liverpool didn't have to wait long though. Hobbs leapt high
above the Wigan defence and headed on goal. His effort should have
been easily gathered but ex-manc Walsh dropped it onto Robbie
Fowler's toe and unlike Johannson, Fowler doesn't miss from there.

It was Fowler's last kick. He was replaced at half time by Calliste.
Liverpool dominated the second half. Roque and Hobbs were excellent
in their midfield battle against Matt Jackson and Damien Francis.
Hobbs' whole demeanour on the pitch belies his age. He has a real
presence and is clearly a leader of men. He's justifying the
decision to make him captain.

Guthrie started the second half much better. He was involved in
everything that was good. He nearly got on the score sheet after a
great move down the left he cut in on his right foot and beat the
keeper but he also managed to just beat the post as his shot flew
wide.

Three minutes later and Guthrie was involved again. This time he
sprayed a great cross field pass to Foy. Foy took it down
brilliantly before firing in from a tricky angle.

With twenty minutes to go Roque displayed a tremendous piece of
skill. After initially slightly miscontrolling it he turned two men
at once. That was enough to draw gasps from the frozen crowd but he
added to it by spraying a cross field ball with the outside of his
right foot which Foy again nearly capitalised on, this time not
managing to hit the target.

Martin was called upon to make the first save he's had to for weeks
when Mahon and Connolly exchanged passes. From only a few yards out
Mahon shot and Martin did brilliantly flinging himself down to his
left.

Ryan Flynn was introduced with ten minutes remaining and in the
short space of time he had he really impressed. Just moments after
coming on he made a great run beyond the strikers and cut in teeing
Calliste up. Calliste dug the ball out from under his feet but
smashed over.

Flynn was the provider not the runner in the next move. He played
out a great ball to Anderson. Anderson beat his man and found the
unmarked Calliste in the area. Calliste displaying what he'd
recently learned at the Andreas Johannson school of finishing calmly
smashed the ball into row Z.

Another impressive night. Although Wigan had chances Liverpool's
youngsters are really growing as a unit. Roll on Villa on Thursday.

MOM. Miguel Roque. Absolutely tremendous in midfield. Always looking
for the ball and very comfortable in an advanced position.

©AdamS

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