Glasgow Rangers 3 City 2

City this evening continued their hooky pre-season form with an agonising late defeat in Glasgow. Our penultimate friendly before the opening day at Blackburn was, in truth, a mixed affair. Going forward we looked quite dangerous, but defensively we were extremely sloppy, much in the vein of last season.

Facing a strong Rangers side, we took to the field in what appeared to be a 4-5-1 formation, with Robinho and Kelvin Etuhu manning the flanks and Emmanuel Adebayor alone upfront. A central three of Barry, Ireland and Nigel de Jong played ahead of a back four including new signing Kolo Toure, with Richard Dunne partnering him in the centre, Micah Richards and Wayne Bridge completing the outfield slots, with Shay Given in goal.

The first half especially, as alluded to above, showed us the best and worst of City. We started brightly, and as the half progressed there was some beautiful link-up play between Adebayor and Robinho especially, with us carving a few chances out and playing some quick, pass and move football. Defensively, though, we appeared our same old flaky selves; often out of position, no real organisation, and certain players again showing their inability to do the basics well, even at all.

Rangers took the lead after twenty minutes through Nacho Novo after some suspect defending from Wayne Bridge, the Spaniard slotting home after two or three of our own hopelessly chased their tails. Bridge continued to look dodgy both when ran at and when dealing with balls over the top, as he has since pretty much day one. He did make one terrific saving challenge later in the game, but i'd like to see him stand up to his winger more.

After going behind we upped our efforts and really penned the home side back. In the 27th minute Stevie Ireland finished off a great move; Robinho picked the ball up on the left, sold his marker with a dropped shoulder, layed the ball into Adebayor, who slipped a ball through for Ireland, whose run towards the right opened up a good angle for him to beat the goalkeeper at his far post.

Robinho and Adebayor continued to link up very well until the break, attempting a couple of slick 1-2 moves, one especially which almost lead to a second goal, with Robbie chipping just wide from the edge of the area. It's early days yet, but the signs of a promising partnership were there for all to see, with Emmanuel showing a real ability to hold the ball up like no-one really could last season.

At half-time Martin Petrov replaced Barry, and Pablo Zabaleta took the place of Nigel de Jong. Rangers had the better early on in the second period, but we took the lead six minutes in, Robinho floating a long ball over the top to sub Petrov, who cut into the box and smashed home past Alexander. Rangers, the bit between the teeth, attacked us right from the off, Steven Davis having a long effort saved by Given.

Not long after they got level. Davis, who had a very good game, finding Miller, who with Given well off his line managed to lob the 'keeper with relative ease. The game then seemed to drop in tempo right until the final couple of minutes. Tal Ben Haim replaced Ireland, with Toure appearing to move forward, Bellamy replaced Adebayor, and inbetween Vlad Weiss replacing Robinho, Martin Petrov blazed a free-kick a yard or so wide from just outside of the Rangers box.

With the clock ticking down we had a great chance to win the game. Another long ball over the top for Petrov, who seemed to be in two minds over what to do after cutting into the area, choosing to cross ahead of Bellamy rather than shoot. Then, in 'typical City' fashion, we threw the game away. Rangers earnt a corner well into the two minutes of injury time, the ball was headed half-clear and whilst everyone stood around and gawped, old man David Weir volleyed home at the far post. I believe Kelvin Etuhu had a last-gasp chance to equalise, but i was too busy stomping off around the house to notice.

A good workout, and some nice play from new signing Adebayor and last season's top scorer Robinho. To make real progress next season however, although this isn't our strongest back four, we'll certainly need to improve defensively, as at times we were a bit of a shambles tonight.

Team:
Given, Richards, Bridge, Toure, Dunne, de Jong (Zabaleta 45), Barry (Petrov 45), Ireland (Ben Haim 65), Etuhu, Adebayor (Bellamy 71), Robinho (Weiss 80)