FRIENDLY FIXTURE
WEDNESDAY 28TH JULY, 2004
RANGERS 2 (2) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 (0)

Scorers:-
Novo, 25
Prso, 45

Referee:- Michael McCurry

Attendance:- 35,750

Teams:-
Ranger (4-4-2):- Klos (Capt.); Ricksen (Hutton, 83), Andrews, Boumsong, Vanoli (Vignal, 45); Burke, Rae, Hughes, Lovenkrands (Ross, 89); Prso (Thompson, 69), Novo (Arveladze, 65)

Subs not used:- Smith, Khizanishvili, Malcolm.

Spurs (4-4-2):- Robinson; Carr (Capt.), King, Gardner (sub McKie, 83), Bunjevcevic; Ricketts, Mendes (sub Mabizela, 64), Davis (sub Doherty, 78), Jackson; Defoe, Keane (sub Marney, 29) (sub Hughes, 75)

Subs not used:- Keller

Booked:- Defoe

Let me tell what I did enjoy about this my first trip to a Glasgow football match:-

1. Meeting Spurs Listee Ian Dawson on what is his adopted home territory, and of course the hospitality in the local hostelries.
2. Meeting several members of the Cumbrian Spurs Supporters' Club for whom this was a relatively local fixture, bearing in mind that for one or two they will leave home at 5 a.m to get to the forthcoming Liverpool fixture and not return till 10.30 p.m.
3. The often electric atmosphere from a crowd of over 35,000 for just a friendly game! They love their football in this part of the world.
4. The occasional JOINT singing of "Rule Britannia" by both sets of fans.
5. The half-time appearance of Graham Roberts - a favourite of both sets of fans - playing in goal for a penalty taking competition.
6. The performances of Paul Robinson (since allocated the number one jersey in the new squad list), and John Jackson. Robinson made two quite spectacular saves, and Jackson tackled back and won loads of ball down the left wing. He also delivered good balls to Defoe and Ricketts, which they did not convert.

What I did not enjoy was the overall performance of a team which has had a dismal set of pre-season results, beating only Stevenage so far. Robbie Keane's departure on a stretcher was a deep concern, with rumours abound that he had broken a leg. This concern has abated somewhat, as we learn he has damaged his ankle ligaments. This is the same injury he suffered in week one last season, playing for his country, from which he recovered fairly quickly. Robbie will miss the start of the season, but Fredi Kanoute was online today, and assures us he will be raring to go against Forest this Saturday.

I also did not enjoy the apparent bigotry of the home fans, who consistently booed Keane, but not Carr or Doherty. Hence the negativity would seem to have been more about Robbie's declared liking for Celtic, than his Nationality.

Rangers (with very few Scottish sounding names in their line-up) have had an excellent pre-season. One of their victims has been Roma, by a margin of 4-1. Their team was much, much sharper than Spurs, particularly their new strike force of Novo and Prso, aided and abetted by left winger Peter Lovenkrands, who left Carr behind like lightning to create the second goal on the stroke of half-time.

Rangers season starts in 9 days time, and their confidence must be high, compared to that of their great rivals, who have still to adequately replace Larsson. Spurs go there in two weeks, but no doubt the "Bhoys" will be keen to at least emulate last night's result. It does look like ex-Wolves and Sunderland player, Alex Rae is going to be a first choice for the "Gers", and he had the first effort last night, woefully wide after Prso set him up. Robinson's first and best great save came from a kick on the right headed goalward by Prso. Robinson arched back superbly and got the height to tip the ball over for a corner.

Spurs had started okay, with Davis and Mendes working hard, tackling quite hard, and seeing a fair bit of the ball. They were defending alright too, with players such as Ricketts making themselves available to collect a short clearance from a defender, which is much better than the aimless boot down the field. It all went to rats though, as Gardner stumbled and allowed Novo a free run at Robinson's goal cutting in from the right and clipping a low shot around the advancing keeper into the net to cause ecstasy for all but a small corner of Ibrox Park, where the Spurs crowd maintained good voice.

Spurs fans taunted the Scots with "Where were you in Portugal", but that did not compensate for the fact that the match became a one-way procession for too much of the time. This was particularly so after Keane's departure caused as his shot on goal was blocked by Andrews. On came Marney, who sadly did not have a good game, passing short too often, and it was Rohan Ricketts who moved up beside Jermain Defoe. Ricketts and Defoe then had a great exchange of passes before Defoe's dipping shot towards the left corner had Klos stretching to parry, then retrieve the ball.

After 39 minutes, Robinson made his second important save, after Ledley King had been perhaps harshly penalised outside the defender's left edge of the box. It was Lovenkrands who glanced a header from the free kick which Robinson saved, perhaps with a little help from his outstretched legs. Just before the break, though, it was game over, as Carr lost out and fell over under that man Lovenkrands' challenge. The winger sprinted away with no-one to catch him getting about three yards out before putting in a low cross easily converted by Prso, from what might have been an offside position.

The second half did not have the pace and excitement of the first, with the usual number of substitutions. The need for Spurs to radically strengthen the squad was emphasized by the shouts of "Who?" from Spurs fans, when the likes of Mark Hughes and Marcel McKie made their entrances. No doubt it was a great experience for these players to be in front of such a passionate crowd, but the optimism of Spurs fans (this one included) is fast waning with every pre-season disappointment.

For the record then, there were a couple of free kicks awarded to Spurs in the second half about 20-22 yards out, but sadly, Spurs took an age to work out what they would do. Defoe took one which was blocked, and Jackson took another which was a weak effort, from a lad who can convert from such positions.

Lovenkrands took advantage of one of Marney's weak passes to race away and set up Novo, who should have scored but blasted wide of Robinson's right post. Some of the tackling got very physical, mainly from Spurs it has to be said, and having had one warning it was one kick too far, when Defoe actually drew a yellow from referee McCurry. Gary Doherty made a late entrance and we can now sadly say that Jacques Santini too has decided Doherty might be of some use as a striker, because he fell in beside Defoe, and Ricketts fell back to the middle. Doherty did win a header, guiding the ball to Defoe, who passed to Jackson, giving Rohan Ricketts two chances, one of which was blocked, the second going high and wide.

Next stop then is Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with a growing injury list, a diminishing strike-force, and an unconvincing midfield. Maybe I should revise my forecast to top half next season - if we're lucky.

Follow @spursodyssey