MANCIENNE BACK IN ACTION
Wednesday 9th January 2008
by Ron Norris

Rangers' reserves ground out a fairly uneventful scoreless draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. Whilst the game was forgettable it did see the return to action of Michael Mancienne and the continued rehabilitation of Simon Walton.

Steve Brown picked a team filled with under 18's players with only a couple of places for recuperating pros, which can't be good news for the likes of Danny Nardiello, Shabazz Baidoo, Dominic Shimmin, Stefan Moore or Zesh Rehman.

Jake Cole was in goal behind a back four of Billy Coyne, Mancienne, Aaron Goode and Andrew Howell. Chris Arthur, Walton and Matt O'Brien made up the midfield three whilst Aaron Morgan-Cummings, Josh Parker and Angelo Balanta were the forward line.

For Morgan-Cummings and Parker this was their first appearances at this level of football after both have impressed for the under 18's in recent games.

Mancienne got an hours worth under his belt as he looks to return to the first team picture whilst Walton played the full 90 in his preferred midfield role.

The reserves are back in action in just a few days time when we travel to play runaway league leaders Charlton on Monday evening.

QPR: Cole, Coyne, Mancienne (Brown), Goode, Howell, M O'Brien, Walton, Arthur, Morgan (Vanterpool), Balanta, Parker (German). Subs not used: Goodchild, Davenport.