Match Report: ICT 0:3 Rangers

Match Report: ICT 0:3 Rangers
Written by Nvager (rangersmedia.co.uk)

The team has been announced. Bougherra replaces Broadfoot at the centre of the the defence and Broadfoot moves to right back. Novo replaces Adam out wide at left midfield. Whittaker is a substitute, but Adam is not in the squad.

Rangers have a chance to make up some ground on Celtic after Celtic dropped two points at home yesterday to Dundee United. A win today cuts Celtic’s lead to 5 points at the top of the SPL.

Rangers open on the attack.
4:00 Corner RFC taken by Davis on the left; the ball is cleared back to Davis who sets up Bougherra for a shot but he drags it wide of the post.
 
11:00 Novo breaks on the left, but his cross is poor and behind Miller.
11.30 Miller lays ball off straight to ICT defender.
11:41 Novo sees the ICT goalkeeper off his line and tries an audacious chip from just inside the halfway line. Very nearly scores!
12:50 Mendes to Broadfoot, but his cross is cleared.
13:30 Poor pass from Mendes, who has been our best player.

14:27 ICT attack and a header sails over the Ranger’s goal.
15:00 Poor ball by Bougherra.
16:00 Papac is beaten on the right and Vigus heads powerfully for goal. Mcgregor clears and Vigus has a shot blocked by Bougherra.

ICT are coming well into the game and our defence looks shaky at the moment.

19:51 Novo breaks forward but has little support.
20:50 Papac to Miller to Ferguson whose cross goes straight to their goalkeeper.
22:00 Novo and Miller try a one-two but Novo runs the ball out of play.

25:24 Cowie shoots hard at goal and McGregor spills it, but Weir clears.
25:56 Miller tries to break through but is crowded out.
26:00 Bad cross by Novo straight to the goalkeeper.
28:00 Another poor cross by Novo to the goalkeeper.
30:00 A sweeping move by Rangers involving Papac, Miller and Mendes sees Davis try a shot which is blocked
36:00 A poor ball by Miller leads to a goal kick.
36:60 A poor ball by Novo ends an attack.
37:00 A good shot by ICT from 25 yards out is saved by McGregor.
38:00 Ferguson to Miller to Boyd, but Boyd is marginally offside.
40:70 Boyd and Mendes combine, but Mendes shot is blocked.
41:00 Ross Tokely’s throw-in catches Rangers off guard, but a poor forward pass lets Rangers off the hook.
43:00 Rangers defence is cut open and the shot just slides by McGregor’s right hand post.

43:39 Miller is fouled just outside the penalty box. Mendes takes the free kick and it is blocked for a corner. A Broadfoot header is then well saved.

45:00 HALF TIME:  ICT 0 – 0 Rangers

It was a very poor first half from Rangers with scrappy play and too many players off form. We lack pace and width. The whole team looks stale. Mendes is our only player that looks to have any football ability.
This is exactly what was said vs Hearts a few weeks ago. ICT are bottom of the SPL and they had more clear-cut chances at goal than us – albeit less possession - in that first half. We must do better.


SECOND HALF

46:00 Novo breaks up the left and beats two men. He squares the ball to Davis who back heels it to Mendes who curls a magnificent shot into the top right hand corner from approximately 22 yards out.

ICT 0-1 Rangers

50:00 Proctor fouls Miller and a Boyd free kick earns a corner from which Bougherra heads high over.
52:50 ICT break and from a cross from the left a header sails over McGregor’s bar.
54:00 Novo robs Tokely and feed Mendes, whose cross results in a corner, which is cleared by ICT.
56:00 Boyd sets up Novo whose shot is saved.
56:47 Boyd feeds Miller who is caught offside.
58:50 Miller to Boyd to Mendes to Novo, but Nacho is offside.
61:00 C. Burke replaces K Miller.
62:39 ICT break down the left, but the cross is cleared.
62:57 Another cross from the left forces Papac to concede a corner but Weir clears.
66:00 A free kick to ICT 22 yards out is blocked by the Rangers “wall”.
67:00 Burke sets up Boyd whose shot is saved.
Burke is playing on the left and Novo has moved to center.
69:00 Novo to Mendes whose cut back is hit by Tokely and the goalkeeper saves an own goal.
71:00 good work by Davis and Novo on the right leads to a snap volley by davis which is just over the bar.
75:00 Boyd sets up Novo whose shot is well saved.
77:00 Ferguson to Novo who wins a corner, but the it is cleared by the ICT defence.
79:00 Burke sets off on a run and then shoots wide.
80:00 A great shot by ICT is saved by McGregor and then cleared by our defence.
81:00 Davis and Boyd combine and Boyd hammers a low shot into goal.  Nice pass from Davis.
ICT 0 –2 Rangers
Whittaker replaces Mendes.

81:20 Whittaker tries to play in B’foot, but the ball runs out of play.
84:00 A spell of ICT pressure forces two corners after which Novo breaks and forces a Rangers corner, but it is poorly taken by Davis.

86:00 Ferguson to Burke who cuts back onto his right foot and floats a high cross to the back post where Boyd heads down and into goal for his second goal.
ICT 0 –3 Rangers.
88:00 ICT have another corner cleared
90:00 Davis sets up Novo but he sends a good chance wide right.

FINAL SCORE : ICT 0 – 3 Rangers 


Rangers Team today:

McGregor: Had some good saves- one in particular from a header in the first half. 
Rangers Media score: 7.0 points

Broadfoot: Steady game at right back.
Rangers Media score: 6.5 points

Bougherra:  Steady game after some time out.  Better second half.
Rangers Media Score: 6.5 points

Weir: Similar to Bougherra – a steady game and a better second half.
Rangers Media score 6.5 points

Papac: Usual game.
Rangers Media score: 6.5 points

Davis: Good game much better second half.
Rangers Media score: 7.5 points

Mendes: As usual all over the pitch. Wonderful goal.
Rangers Media score: 8.0 points

Ferguson: Steady, but can do better. 
Rangers Media score: 6.5 points

Novo: Tried so hard.  Good second half.  
Rangers Media score 7.0 points

Miller: Poor first half and substituted after 61 minutes.
Rangers Media score: 5.5 points

Boyd: Not at his best, but scored twice.  An enigma.
Rangers Media score 7.0 points
 
Substitutes:
 
Burke: On for Miller after 61 minutes.  Tried hard.  Added width.
Rangers Media score: 5.0 points

Whittaker: On after 81 minutes for Mendes.  Tried hard.
Rangers Media score: 4.0 points


Manager: Team was fairly obvious, but came out flat yet again in the first half. ICT are not world-beaters, but in the first half we sure struggled. Thankfully a wonderful Mendes goal at the beginning of the second half set us on our way to victory.


MOTM: Mendes.  Wonderful goal.  Davis was a close second and Boyd did score two goals.