Real Mallorca 1-1

[Steven]

1-1 FT Gallagher pen. Supposedly good football?

 

[spionfox]

1-1 FT Gallagher pen. Supposedly good football?

At least we didn't lose :icon_bigg

 

[Steven]

From the OS. :icon_wink

Report: City 1 Real Mallorca 1
Posted on: Thu 14 Jul 2011

Sven-Goran Eriksson continued to spread the work among his talented City squad as further squad members completed 90 pre-season minutes in a competitive draw with Real Mallorca in Stockholm.

Eriksson fielded an entirely different side to that which beat IK Sirius on Tuesday night, including six new signings, as the Foxes came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against the Spanish side.

Mallorca's Israeli striker Tomer Hemed gave the Spaniards the lead on 12 minutes, but a penalty from Paul Gallagher after a foul by Uche on Sean St. Ledger secured a share of the spoils.

But a good-spirited contest was spoiled to a degree by the late dismissals of Mallorca's Jonathan De Guzman and City's Neil Danns - four of six cautions in a less than dirty game.

After allowing the eleven that started Tuesday's win over IK Sirius to complete a full 90 minutes, it was fairly predictable that Eriksson would turn to entirely different personnel in the Swedish capital.

That meant starts for six of the summer's seven new arrivals - Matt Mills the only fresh face left out - while the likes of Richie Wellens, Andy King and Paul Gallagher added a familiar streak to proceedings.

Eriksson's side nearly found themselves in front on 10 minutes when a long clearance downfield deceived the Mallorca defence, but Gallagher's improvised finish from a tight angle came back off the crossbar.

But despite a bright start from the men in blue, they fell behind to a fortuitous opener two minutes later - Kasper Schmeichel adjusting well to parry an awkwardly dipping drive from Mallorca's Chori Castro and Tomer following up to scuff over the prostrate Foxes keeper.

City continued to look the more accomplished side in possession, though Dutchman Jonathan De Guzman was proving a difficult obstacle to pass and Castro showed some classy touches further forward.

Sven's men would quickly find avenues to attack though, particularly through the hard-working David Nugent, who just failed to keep a half-volley down after good work down the right from Darius Vassell, then couldn't find the target from Paul Konchesky's low delivery after a searching pass from Neil Danns.

The Foxes were beginning to look more fluent though and they came out for the second half brightly, taking advantage of changes in the Mallorca line-up to level soon after the break.

Gallagher's free-kick from the right just evaded the head of Sol Bamba in the centre, but St. Ledger retrieved beyond the far post before being clattered into by substitute Uche.

Gallagher did the rest with customary efficiency.

That livened Mallorca up for a spell and they began to threaten for the first time since opening the scoring - Tomer at the heart of their best attacks.

Shortly after the hour-mark, the Israel international threw an outrageous dummy to give Ximo Navarro shooting space - space that was wasted with a wild drive - and then got on the end of a cross from substitute Kevin, but headed too close to Schmeichel.

With fitness the primary objective, Eriksson would have been happy to see the energy among the second group of players in as many games as the second half wore on - Konchesky continuing to burst down the left flank at every opportunity and a midfield of Wellens, King and Danns looking well-balanced.

Surprisingly enough for a pre-season game, four yellow cards had been dished out by the midway stage of the second half, the first of them to De Guzman.

And when the energetic Danns stripped the Dutch midfielder and ran at the heart of the Mallorca defence, De Guzman's clumsy foul saw his evening ended 16 minutes from time.

City impressively upped the tempo from there, in search of a winner, and Gallagher might have provided one had he got more purchase on an overhead kick after controlling a ball downfield.

But after reducing one side to 10 men, a rather strict referee sadly issued a second caution to Danns, who caught Kevin fractionally late.

City (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Peltier, Bamba, St. Ledger, Konchesky; Wellens, Danns, King (c); Vassell, Nugent, Gallagher.

Subs not used: Abe, Ball, Berner, Dyer, Howard, Kermorgant, Moussa, Oakley, Schlupp, Smith, Waghorn, Weale.

Goals: Gallagher 50 pen

Booked: Gallagher, Danns

Sent off: Danns

 

[Darth Vodka]

the Palace fans said Danns gets sent off every now and then...

 

[drummindefender]

without overreacting too much as it is a pre season friendly it did sound like a familiar story- play nice football, concede a sloppy goal, and waste decent chances.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

without overreacting too much as it is a pre season friendly it did sound like a familiar story- play nice football, concede a sloppy goal, and waste decent chances.

Real Mallorca are better than any team we will face in the Championship this season. We drew 1-1 with them, what is there to react to?

 

[LCFC'sGodWears9]

Two sent off in a pre-season friendly?!

The ref must've been a strict one... :icon_roll:icon_roll

 

[TornadoShaunUK]

Sounded good to me. I reckon the preferred partnership at back might be St Ledger and Mills. If today's match showed anything it probably reinforced the idea that we could really do with another striker.

 

[drummindefender]

Real Mallorca are better than any team we will face in the Championship this season. We drew 1-1 with them, what is there to react to?

That its going to be the same old story again? that was my point. It sounded like it was a similar theme tonight.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

That its going to be the same old story again? that was my point. It sounded like it was a similar theme tonight.

If the same old story means we'd be drawing 1-1 to teams of Mallorca quality, while not at home, then I'd be more than happy with that.

 

[drummindefender]

Yes but Mallorca were hardly at their best prof. Plus they had played a game only 24 hours earlier, and mixed their side up a lot. I wouldn't read anything into the result whatsoever.

 

[Scotfox]

Does Danns red card mean he will miss league matches?

 

[Steven]

Does Danns red card mean he will miss league matches?

Did you listen to the match?

 

[Tamworth Fox]

Sven out. Stevie Howard for captain

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Yes but Mallorca were hardly at their best prof. Plus they had played a game only 24 hours earlier, and mixed their side up a lot. I wouldn't read anything into the result whatsoever.

And that was also the first game the players in our team had played for months. I imagine especially given that it was a whole 90mins, rather than 2 teams over 45mins they didn't have the legs to attack or press as much as they liked, which is why I wouldn't read anything into the dominating, giving a sloppy goal away and not winning either.

Does Danns red card mean he will miss league matches?

Up to the digression of the governing bodies (not sure which one, the football league?) iirc, Rooney was banned for a league match for a red card in a friendly a few years back, but generally they are not.

 

[TornadoShaunUK]

Did you listen to the match?

I don't remember it being mentioned in the commentary (whether it counts or not) but Danns has said somethng along the lines of 'luckily it doesn't count' on his twitter.

 

[drummindefender]

And that was also the first game the players in our team had played for months. I imagine especially given that it was a whole 90mins, rather than 2 teams over 45mins they didn't have the legs to attack or press as much as they liked, which is why I wouldn't read anything into the dominating, giving a sloppy goal away and not winning either.



Up to the digression of the governing bodies (not sure which one, the football league?) iirc, Rooney was banned for a league match for a red card in a friendly a few years back, but generally they are not.

You're just enjoying arguing with me tonight aren't you!

Danns says on his twitter it don't count so ha!

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Not arguing DD, just discussing. :icon_lol:

 

[LeeCovFox]

I'm neither concerned about an inability to put chances away (it could easily be a bit of rust which needs shaking off over pre-season), nor impressed by a draw with Mallorca (who are a half decent outfit, but nothing more). Far too early to be making any kind of judgement.

 

[Lako42]

Did you listen to the match?

I think giving him an answer would have been quicker.