And we're another keeper down, too....
MARTIN INJURED AS RESERVES LOSE
Steve Hunter at Wrexham 19 October 2006
Liverpool Reserves suffered a double blow on Thursday night when they lost 3-2 to Middlesbrough and saw goalkeeper David Martin leave the field after an hour with a hip injury.
The England youth international was caught by a high challenge when he came outside his area to win the ball, and unfortunately after treatment he couldn't continue. Besides picking up a hip injury Martin also had slight concussion. One of last season's FA Youth Cup heroes goalkeeper David Roberts replaced Martin.
Meanwhile Reds reserve team boss Gary Ablett is still searching for his first win of the season but the 3-2 defeat was harsh as Liverpool created some great chances on the night. Despite goals from Besian Idrizaj and Craig Lindfield less than convincing defending cost the Reds dear.
Ablett fielded a young side including Lee Peltier who was an unused substitute for the first team in Bordeaux on Wednesday night. Moroccan youth international Nabil El Zhar was given a new role on the right wing with Paul Anderson switched to the left hand side.
Middlesbrough fielded former Liverpool defender Abel Xavier who was returning from a lengthy ban.
Liverpool should have opened the scoring after 17 minutes. Danny Guthrie split open the Boro defence with a superb pass to find Idrizaj in space. The Austrian Under-21 international in turn found El Zhar who had a great chance but he unfortunately miscued and the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the goal, just missing the stretching Craig Lindfield and Anderson who appeared to get in each other's way. Guthrie then went close with a low shot which he drilled just wide.
Middlesbrough took the lead after 23 minutes. Graeme Owens turned Peltier inside out down the left wing before his low cross beat the diving Martin and Tom Craddock was left to tap home into an empty net.
Three minutes later Liverpool equalised. Idrizaj was fouled in the area and even though his penalty was saved by Ross Turnbull the Austrian found the net from the rebound.
A minute later Martin made a brilliant save from close range to deny Graham.
The away side were then forced to make a substitution after the half hour mark when left back Anthony McMahon was carried off with an ankle injury following a late tackle from Idrizaj. From the resulting quickly taken free-kick Owens ran clean through but with just Martin to beat the winger curled wide of the goal.
The second half started in frantic fashion with three goals inside the opening six minutes. Firstly Boro went 3-1 up through goals from Craddock and Danny Graham, but Lindfield then hit back for Liverpool with an excellent finish to make it 3-2.
Liverpool stepped up the pressure in the final stages of the game but try as they might they couldn't find an equaliser.
Ablett brought on the tricky Adam Hammill for the final 15 minutes and he was outstanding. Twice he went close to scoring and from one effort that was saved Idrizaj somehow failed to score when he fired the rebound into the side netting.
Robbie Threlfall then went close in the final five minutes with a low drilled effort that hit the post and Anderson glanced a header just wide.
Liverpool Reserves: Martin (Roberts 60), Peltier (Threlfall 66), Smith, Roque, Hobbs, Mannix, El Zhar, Guthrie, Lindfield (Hammill 75), Idrizaj, Anderson. Subs unused: Antwi, Flynn.
Middlesbrough Reserves: Turnbull, Xavier, McMahon (Grounds 30), Hines, Bates, Kennedy, Franks (Goulon 75), Walker, Craddock, Graham, Owens.
Referee: Mr O Langford.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the match: Danny Guthrie. An excellent competitive display in central midfield.
MARTIN INJURED AS RESERVES LOSE
Steve Hunter at Wrexham 19 October 2006
Liverpool Reserves suffered a double blow on Thursday night when they lost 3-2 to Middlesbrough and saw goalkeeper David Martin leave the field after an hour with a hip injury.
The England youth international was caught by a high challenge when he came outside his area to win the ball, and unfortunately after treatment he couldn't continue. Besides picking up a hip injury Martin also had slight concussion. One of last season's FA Youth Cup heroes goalkeeper David Roberts replaced Martin.
Meanwhile Reds reserve team boss Gary Ablett is still searching for his first win of the season but the 3-2 defeat was harsh as Liverpool created some great chances on the night. Despite goals from Besian Idrizaj and Craig Lindfield less than convincing defending cost the Reds dear.
Ablett fielded a young side including Lee Peltier who was an unused substitute for the first team in Bordeaux on Wednesday night. Moroccan youth international Nabil El Zhar was given a new role on the right wing with Paul Anderson switched to the left hand side.
Middlesbrough fielded former Liverpool defender Abel Xavier who was returning from a lengthy ban.
Liverpool should have opened the scoring after 17 minutes. Danny Guthrie split open the Boro defence with a superb pass to find Idrizaj in space. The Austrian Under-21 international in turn found El Zhar who had a great chance but he unfortunately miscued and the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the goal, just missing the stretching Craig Lindfield and Anderson who appeared to get in each other's way. Guthrie then went close with a low shot which he drilled just wide.
Middlesbrough took the lead after 23 minutes. Graeme Owens turned Peltier inside out down the left wing before his low cross beat the diving Martin and Tom Craddock was left to tap home into an empty net.
Three minutes later Liverpool equalised. Idrizaj was fouled in the area and even though his penalty was saved by Ross Turnbull the Austrian found the net from the rebound.
A minute later Martin made a brilliant save from close range to deny Graham.
The away side were then forced to make a substitution after the half hour mark when left back Anthony McMahon was carried off with an ankle injury following a late tackle from Idrizaj. From the resulting quickly taken free-kick Owens ran clean through but with just Martin to beat the winger curled wide of the goal.
The second half started in frantic fashion with three goals inside the opening six minutes. Firstly Boro went 3-1 up through goals from Craddock and Danny Graham, but Lindfield then hit back for Liverpool with an excellent finish to make it 3-2.
Liverpool stepped up the pressure in the final stages of the game but try as they might they couldn't find an equaliser.
Ablett brought on the tricky Adam Hammill for the final 15 minutes and he was outstanding. Twice he went close to scoring and from one effort that was saved Idrizaj somehow failed to score when he fired the rebound into the side netting.
Robbie Threlfall then went close in the final five minutes with a low drilled effort that hit the post and Anderson glanced a header just wide.
Liverpool Reserves: Martin (Roberts 60), Peltier (Threlfall 66), Smith, Roque, Hobbs, Mannix, El Zhar, Guthrie, Lindfield (Hammill 75), Idrizaj, Anderson. Subs unused: Antwi, Flynn.
Middlesbrough Reserves: Turnbull, Xavier, McMahon (Grounds 30), Hines, Bates, Kennedy, Franks (Goulon 75), Walker, Craddock, Graham, Owens.
Referee: Mr O Langford.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the match: Danny Guthrie. An excellent competitive display in central midfield.
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