The pre-season takes a step up with just a few weeks to go before the Premiership kick-off. Slowly but surely we’re seeing some patterns emerge from the managers and some form from the players. Here’s my round-up of the latest friendly action.
Benfica 2 Blackburn Rovers 3
Sporting 2 Blackburn Rovers 1
Two games inside 48 hours for Blackburn saw them claim one win and a defeat against top Portugease opposition.
A superb 30-yard free-kick from Pedersen got things started for Rovers on Friday night against Benfica. That strike equalised an earlier goal for Benfica and led to Blackburn taking charge of the game. Roberts and Emerton added further goals with Pedersen notching an assist to cap an impressive performance.
Ince’s lineup against Benfica was strong and certianly closer to his first choice selection. Once again Reid was employed at right back with Emerton playing an advanced role on the right – something to note considering he is classed as a defender in some fantasy games this season. Pedersen’s form is also something to note, it might well be that with Bentley due to depart, the Norwegian could step up his game.
Saturday saw a very different Rovers take the field against Sporting and a penalty for Benni McCarthy wasn’t enough for Ince’s men to avoid defeat. One possible point of interest in this one was Ince’s change of formation in the second half to 3-5-2 with wing backs employed and Tugay sitting in front of a back three.
Rovers take on Wolves next Saturday, a game which should give us a definite idea of Ince’s favoured formation and lineup.
Blackburn vs Benfica:
Brown, Reid, Ooijer (Olsson 79), Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Tugay (Judge 79), Mokoena, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts (Fowler 68).
Blackburn vs Sporting:
Fielding, Kane, Khizanishvili, Samba, Treacy, Judge (Gallagher 74), Vogel (Tugay 46), Dunn (Peter 86), Hodge (Mokoena 46), Fowler (Roberts 74), McCarthy.
Aston Villa 1 Odense 0
A fabulous strike from Ashley Young was enough to see Villa through to the UEFA Cup as they saw off Odense 1-0 on the day, 3-2 on aggregate.
Young latched onto a pass from Reo-Coker before cutting inside and firing a right-food drive into the top corner of the Odense net. Villa had previously enjoyed a let off when Odense struck a post in the first half. That came against the run of play however, with Villa dominant and Young in particular, looking a threat.
The victory was soured by a nasty injury to Wilfred Bouma. As reported here, the left-back now faces a lengthy spell out after dislocating his right ankle. Bouma was replaced by Barry on 15 minutes, the former skipper got an unexpected warm reception from the home fans – indication that Barry could yet consider a future at Villa.
O’Neill’s side now move into Friday’s draw for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup and will play their fist leg tie on Tuesday or Wednesday next week with the second leg to follow a week after.
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Aston Villa vs Odense:
Taylor, Bouma (Barry 15), Gardner, Knight, Laursen, Sid-Coker, Petrov, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Ipswich 2 West Brom 1
The Baggies suffered controversial last-gasp heartbreak as Ipswich striker, Kevin Lisbie, fired home after appearing to foul his marker.
West Brom had earlier taken a 40th minute lead thanks to a fine strike from Miller. The big centre-forward had earlier missed numerous chances but put things right with a fine curling effort from 20-yards. Ipswich soon pegged back their Premiership opponents with a penalty after Greening was adjudged to have handballed. Then followed Lisbie’s winner in the final minutes.
Aside from Miller’s form up front, the most significant points to take from this game was Mowbray’s formation and the role of new signing, Marek Cech. Mowbray employed a 4-5-1 with Miller playing the lone striker role. Robinson returned at left-back and that pushed Cech into a central midfield role with a licence to push forward and support the striker. Cech is of course, classed as a defender across the fantasy games and a cheap one at that.
West Brom vs Ipswich:
Kiely (Carson 45); Hoefkens, Barnett, Clement, Robinson; Morrison, Kim (Bednar 77), Greening, Cech (MacDonald 61), Brunt (Worrall 68); I Miller (Moore 45)
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Man United 4
United eased to victory in the Vodacom Challenge final thanks to goals from Giggs, Rooney, Tom Cleverley and Campbell.
Ferguson’s men took their time to find the pace in this game with Ferguson fielding several youngsters who have yet to experience first team football. In fact, although the likes of Neville, Ferdinand and Evra were missing from the back four, we can’t take too much from Saturday’s lineup. United face Portsmouth in Nigeria on Sunday evening and Ferguson was clearly saving some legs for that one today.
One point of interest however is the fact that Rooney was once again on the score sheet. That’s his third goal in his last three appearances – a good omen for the start of the season.
United vs Kaizer Chiefs:
Kuszczak; Simpson, Vidic (Evans 63), Cathcart, O’Shea; Fletcher (Gibson 63), Possebon (Cleverley 46), Carrick (Scholes 63), Martin (Eagles 46); Rooney (Tevez 66), Giggs (Campbell 66)
Doncaster 1 Newcastle 0
Newcastle stumbled in their second pre-season game as Championship Doncaster struck a 87th minute. In what was an uneventful affair, the main talking points from a fantasy perspective surrounded Keegan’s team selection.
He gave a start to French trialist Sebastien Bassong at the back and he partnered Cacapa in central defence with Taylor and Enrique at full back. That saw N’Zogbia pushed forward into a wide role with Duff on the other flank. Geremi skippered the side in central midfield, while Guthrie got a first start alongside him. Smith started up front once again.
Newcastle take on Hertha Berlin next, on Friday evening.
Newcastle vs Doncaster:
Harper, Taylor, Cacapa, Bassong, Enrique, Duff, Guthrie, Geremi, N’Zogbia, Ameobi, Smith
Crewe 4 Hull City 0
The Premiership newcomers suffered a demoralising mauling at League One Crewe as Calvin Zola fired a hat-trick for the home side.
Newboy Mendy had a nightmare at the back for Hull, conceding two penalties and then missing his own-spot kick at the other end. Hull boss Phil Brown changed his entire lineup in the second half but by that time the game was out of sight at 4-0. Hull did at least spare themselves the embarrassment of conceding further goals. Geovanni once again deployed up front in the second half.
Hull vs Crewe:
First Half: Myhill, Doyle, Brown, Mendy, Cooper, Ashbee, Boateng, Barmby, Garcia, Halmosi, Folan
Second Half: Duke, France, Plummer, Turner, Ricketts, Fagan, Marney, Hughes, Featherstone, Geovanni, Windass.
Hamburg SV 1 Man City 0
City suffered a narrow defeat against their Bundesliga opposition, unable to claw back the goal they conceded after 15 minutes.
It was a strong City side with Corluka, Elano and Caicedo made their first starts under Hughes. That meant that Onuoha and Hamann were benched, while Jo was preparing for participation in the Olympics with Brazil.
Not too much to note from this one, except perhaps the form of Schmeichel. He was given his chance in the second half and made several quality saves to boost his reputation. Hughes has made it clear that the goalkeeping spot is still up for grabs so Schmeichel performance here is well timed.
City face EB/Streymur in the second leg of their UEFA Cup qualifying game on Thursday.
City vs Hamburg:
Hart (Schmeichel 45), Corluka (Onuoha 70), Richards, Dunne, Ball, Ireland (Etuhu 65), Fernandes (Hamann 77), Petrov, Vassell (Sturridge 80), Elano, Caicedo (Evans 65)
Chengdu Blades 0 Chelsea 7
Chelsea strolled to a big win with goals from Anelka, Kalou, Lampard, Joe Cole (2), Di Santo and Wright-Phillips.
Scolari tweaked his formation here, opting for a three man midfield of Lampard, Essien and Deco. Mikel was rested, allowing Wright-Phillips to start wide of Anelka with Kalou operating on the other side of the striker. A familiar setup for Chelsea. Ferreira replaced the injured Bosingwa while Joe Cole made his first pre-season appearance from the bench.
Reports are suggesting that Anelka is playing with confidence. His goal today was his first for Chelsea since February 2 and added two assists to that in an encouraging display. Cole’s two goals are also worth noting, as is the fact that Deco was hogging direct freekicks having apparently practised the extensively in training.
Chelsea take on a Malaysian Select XI on Tuesday night, before they travel to Moscow to for the Russian Railways Cup next week.
Chelsea vs Chengdu Blades:
Cech (Hilario 60), Ferreira (Ivanovic 45), Alex (Carvalho 45), Terry (J Cole 53), A Cole (Bridge 45); Deco, Essien, Lampard (Mikel 45); Wright-Phillips, Anelka (Di Santo 60), Kalou (Malouda 45).
Macclesfield 1 Bolton 0
Megson fielded a very young and inexperienced side for this friendly as he works on improving fitness throughout his entire squad.
Not much to glean from this one then but Bolton travel to Tranmere on Tuesday which should see the Bolton boss field a stronger, more familiar lineup.
Bolton vs Macclesfield:
Walker, Sinclair, Carlisle, Dzemaili, Eckersley (Stokes 46), Basham, Harsanyi, Sissons, Obedayi, Vaz Te, Cohen
Ulsan Tigers 1 Fulham 2
Fulham ended their tour of Korea with another victory. Goals form Daives and Gera enough to see off Ulsan Tigers.
Hodgeson used Pantsil in the centre of defence alongside Hughes, while Gera was given a 90-minute opportunity to impress in midfield. Bullard was benched but came on the in second half to set up the goal for Davies. Another substitute, Seol, also provided an assist for Gera to fire home the winner.
Fulham vs Ulsan Tigers:
Schwarzer, Volz, Pantsil, Hughes, Konchesky, Murphy (Bullard 45), Davies, Andreasen, Gera, Johnson (Seol 45), Zamora (Dempsey 60).