Premier League Cup
Team: Warren, Adamson, Putman, Wilkie, Akindileni, Alemayehu, Sanyaolu, Dyke, Bennie, Pearman, Coomes
Subs: Halliday, Leahy, Neill, Hassan, Scarlett
Following an early affirmative morning pitch inspection, it was later cleared just before 6pm, ten minutes or so before the Burnley team arrived.
Rangers suffered an early casualty, when Kealey Adamson was forced off after seven minutes, and Jake Leahy came on to replace him.
Then on nine minutes, Jake Coomes’ strike from the edge of the box narrowly evaded the upright.
In the 14th minute, Charlie Warren made a superb save at the near post to deny the visitors an early lead.
Two minutes later, Enock Agyei belted the ball against the underside of the crossbar.
After 26 minutes, the same player forced a very good save from the R’s keeper.
The Clarets had certainly had the best of it, and around the half-hour mark they took the lead, after Jaydon Banel was deemed to have been fouled in the box. I did notice that no Burnley players had appealed for a penalty!
Mr Ajibola booked Daniel Bennie, seemingly for encroachment? Banel then stepped up and planted the ball in the bottom corner.
George Brierley’s shot from 20 yards almost sneaked in the corner, but Charlie Warren did well to keep it out and then grabbed the second attempt.
Rangers came close to an equaliser in the 44th minute following a foul on Philip Sanyaolu, close to the edge of the box.
From which, Isak Alemayehu’s powerful free kick was stopped with a flying, punched save from the keeper.
The half-time whistle was blown after four added minutes.
Two minutes into the second-half, Jake Leahy’s attempt ended up in the keeper’s gloves.
Then, from a corner, Kaleb Dyke’s low strike was aimed directly at Oisin Cooney.
Following a breakaway on 53 minutes, Daniel Bennie set-up Jaylan Pearman and the resulting shot was saved by the keeper.
The next change was made on 63 minutes when Philip Sanyaolu made way for Ridwan Hassan.
Rangers had certainly more or the game since the interval and had created a number of goalscoring opportunities. This provoked a change in formation from the visitors.
In the 78th minute, Fraser Neill was introduced at the expense of Isak Alemayehu.
Two minutes later, Charlie Warren made an outstanding point-blank save on the goal-line.
As the Clarets looked to double their lead, George Brierley was put through, and the Burnley captain’s attempt from close range, sailed over the bar.
The match was brought to an end after three added minutes.
Overall Burnley deserved their victory, which guaranteed them a place in the last sixteen.
As for the R’s, it was a case of wait and see.
Steve Russell