nvager 498 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Written by Nvager Saturday January 17, 2009 Rangers vs Falkirk at Ibrox Stadium This Rangers team includes John Fleck. Fleck makes his debut/start for Rangers at 17 years of age in place of Naismith who did well in our SCP win over St. Johnstone on Tuesday. Has Walter taken heed of the fans’ demand to give Fleck a chance? Has the “We Deserve Better” campaign scored a goal or a point here? Perhaps! Three points is a must again so lets get started. We are five points behind Celtic. FIRST HALF 1:00 A poor first touch by Miller leads to a Falkirk attack, but the danger is cleared. 2.38 Falkirk are pressing again, but the defence holds. 2:55 John Fleck shows some good close control, but the final pass is just blocked. 3.35: Poor ball by Weir sets up a Falkirk attack. 4:32 Mendes breaks but a late tackle by Barr saves Falkirk. 5:17 Broadfoot and Davis combine, but a Davis’ cross is cleared by McBride. 5:56 Poor touch by Miller gives up possession. 6:10 Lovell is offside for Falkirk. 6:30 A great tackle by Mendes halts a Falkirk attack down their right side. 8:50 A Mendes’ shot is blocked and Falkirk move forward 9:45 Lowell is once more off-side for Falkrk. DISASTER – Falkirk Score! Lowell onside this time, collects a great through ball from McCann, gets in behind Bougherra and scores. 12:00 Rangers 0 – 1 Falkirk 13:00 Davis sends in a dangerous cross which the goalkeeper spills, but Papac lobs over. 14:00 Lovell tries to catch McGregor off his line with a long high shot. 16:25 Fleck to Boyd, but Boyd is just offside 17:00 Fleck tries to go through on his own, but loses control at the vital second. 18:00 Barry Ferguson is caught in possession. 18:34 Barry tries to release Boyd, but is just too long with his pass. 19:00 Fleck sets up Miller who shoots high and wide. I think it was a shot, but not at all sure. 20:00 Poor touch by Miller then a poor pass towards Boyd by Davis. 22:00 Mendes shot is blocked for a corner. The corner comes over and D Weir heads back across goal, but the goalkeeper makes the save. 23:00 Falkirk again pressing down their left side. Broadfoot takes a throw-in, but Davis is easily dispossessed. Rangers are finding it hard to open up the 5-man Falkirk defence. We need to up the tempo. We are too slow and deliberate in our build-up. 26:00 Miller has a clear shot on goal, but the goalkeeper makes a fine save and the ball is tipped over for a corner. 27:00 Miller is offside. 28:00 Boyd shoots over from a bouncing ball. 30:00 Mendes tries to find Broadfoot but it results in a goal kick. 31:00 Arfield tries a long shot at McGregor’s goal. 32:00 Rangers are toiling, many passes, but little in the way of an end product. 34:00 Boyd goes down in the area by the goalkeeper. NO penalty given. Miller is booked for protesting. The goalkeeper collects the resulting corner 36:00 A great chance again for K Miller, but he drags it just wide. 37:00 A flowing move results in Mendes shooting just wide. 38:00 Boyd to Miller, but Kenny is offside. 39:50 Fleck beats two men and is taken down by McNamara who is booked. 40:00 The freekick is headed back towards the Falkirk goal and Miller attempts an overhead kick and lands flat on his back. He wants a penalty, but nothing is given. 41:00 Papac and Broadfoot lose possession, but no real danger. 43:00 Long shot way over by Papac. 44:51 Boyd is fouled in the penalty box. Penalty Rangers! 45:00 Boyd takes the penalty and crushes it into the net. 45:00 Rangers 1- 1 Falkirk HALF TIME: Rangers 1-1 Falkirk A poor display by Rangers against a fighting Falkirk. Mendes and Fleck are the bright spots. SECOND HALF 46:00 Miller breaks but fouls Falkirk player. 47:00 Fleck shoots, but the shot lacks power and is easily saved. 48:00 Ferguson tries to find Boyd, but offside is given. 49:00 Falkirk break quickly and nearly score. McGregor saves the day coming quickly way out of goal. 51:00 Gregg of Falkirk tackles Mendes. Referee awards a red card. It is unclear why a red card was given, but he may have followed through on Mendes with his tackle. From the free kick Boyd hits a rocket just wide/over. 53:38 A short corner is wasted by Ferguson. 54:00 McCann shoots over from a Falkirk free kick. 55 Lovell is making Weir look slow. 56:00 A poor Miller pass towards Boyd breaks up an attack. 57:00 Good work by Papac is ended when he releases a poor pass. 58:00 Bougherra makes a good run forward, but the goalkeeper saves his cross/shot. 59:00 Good ball by Papac to Mendes, but the cross is cut off for a corner. The corner breaks back to Mendes who beats the fullback, but the goalkeeper takes in the cross. 61:00 A great move and cross by Fleck right onto Boyd’s head, but the header is right at the goalkeeper. 62:00 Cross by Papac but foul by Boyd. 63:50 Papac and Mendes combine for a corner, which is cleared. Miller looks injured? 66:00 Great tackle by Bougherra. Fleck breaks and sets up Miller who hits a poor shot right to the goalkeeper. Miller is having a poor poor day and should be substituted. 67:00 Fleck shot deflected for a corner. Mendes crosses and a Broadfoot header is saved. 69:00 A poor through ball by Papac. 71:00 Fleck is pulled down and a yellow card is given to Scott Arfield. 72:00 Novo replaces Miller at long last. 73:00 Poor free kick by Mendes and poor header by Bougherra at back post. 74:00 Bougherra crosses and Broadfoot shoots way over the bar. 75:00 From a free kick on the right Papac hits an in swinging shot close to the target. 76:00 Fleck over hits a cross but we end up with a corner. Falkirk break out quickly and Papac makes a saving tackle. The referee awards a RED Card to Papac. It seems unbelievable. A yellow would seem harsh, but a red is laughable. 79:00 Davis finds Novo long on the right. Novo scampers to the byline and sends over a low hard cross which the goalkeeper palms out to an incoming Boyd. Goal Rangers as Boyd scores with a tap in. 79:00 Rangers 2-1 Falkirk. The tension eases at Ibrox. Novo should have replaced Miller at halftime as Kenny was having a very bad day. 82:00 A poor shot by Broadfoot. 83:00 Davis breaks out on the right, but sends over a poor cross. 83:39 Boyd is taken off as Whittaker comes on. Looks like Walter has decided to make certain of the three points. 89:00 A poor cross by McCann lets off Rangers. Falkirk are pressing and nearly score. Rangers are playing around. 89:20 Rangers break as Mendes wins possession; he plays in Novo whose shot is saved for a corner. A short corner is taken to Davis, who turns inside towards the byline and beats two men. He then cuts back towards the penalty spot but suddenly turns again and shoots- GOAL Rangers! Rangers 3 – 1 Falkirk. 89:20 Rangers 3- Falkirk. 91:00 Rangers break again, but Novo commits afoul. FULL TIME: Rangers 3-1 Falkirk Rangers Team today: McGregor: Nearly stopped the goal. Not too much to do.. Rangers Media score: 6.5 points Broadfoot: Tried hard as usual but not a great performance. Rangers Media score: 5.5 points Bougherra: Steady game. One great run and one great tackle. Rangers Media Score: 6.5 points Weir: Steady game. Rangers Media score 6.0 points Papac: Tried hard and tried to get forward, but some poor play and a red card. Rangers Media score: 5.5 points Davis: Up and down game. Not too good, but with some bright moments including a great goal.. Rangers Media score: 6.5 points Mendes: As usual all over the pitch. . Rangers Media score: 7.5 points Ferguson: Steady, but can do better. Rangers Media score: 6.0 points Fleck: Great debut with tons of promise. Looked very composed. Rangers Media score 7.5 points Miller: Poor first half and substituted after 71 minutes. Should have been off at half time. Missed two or three good chances. Rangers Media score: 4.5 points Boyd: Tried hard and scored twice. Rangers Media score 7.0 points Substitutes: Novo: On for Miller after 71 minutes; tried hard and added width and passion. Rangers Media score: 5.0 points Whittaker: On after 83 minutes for Boyd. Tried hard. Rangers Media score: 4.0 points Manager: Team selection was good, but came out flat yet again in the first half. Falkirk are not world-beaters, but in the first half we sure struggled. Thankfully a penalty on the stroke of half time made life easier. Why Walter did not make changes earlier is baffling as it was so obvious that Miller was having a BAD day. Rangers Media score 6.0 points + 1 bonus point for giving a debut/start to Fleck. Man of the Match: A choice of Mendes or Fleck. Let’s encourage youth by giving it to Fleck. Boyd is worth a mention for two goals too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper 157 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Excellent mate- did you write all that yourself? Excellent read for overseas bears (such as yourself!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvager 498 Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Excellent mate- did you write all that yourself? Excellent read for overseas bears (such as yourself!) Wrote it all myself after taking copious notes during the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewbacca 8 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Great report nvager, thanks for taking the time Looking forward to watching highlights of Fleck especially. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgblue 2 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Hi Guys, as a fellow overseas Bear does anyone know where I can watch highlights of the games? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibroxblue 122 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thought McGregor might have done better at their goal (but not sure). Fleck certainly made a promising first start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alstone 374 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Good effort sir Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbm26896 995 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 terrible conditions to play in , a very accurate report Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvager 498 Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Takes a little time, but glad if it helps some Bears get a better idea of the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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