Mbenza stars as academy fire five
WHILE Huddersfield Town were picking up another Championship point at Blackburn Rovers, dropped wingman Isaac Mbenza was helping put Rangers to the sword.
The 23-year-old Belgian - left out of manager Danny Cowley’s matchday 18 at Ewood Park due to Alex Pritchard’s return - instead played for the Elite Development Team against the Glasgow side’s Academy at PPG Canalside.
And he found the net twice - including a penalty - as a Town side including a number of senior squad members registered a 5-1 win.
It’s an encouraging development for Mbenza, who has played just 62 minutes as a substitute in the Championship since the arrival of new manager Cowley.
“People maybe misunderstand Isaac. He is actually quite hard on himself,” explained Cowley of the former Montpellier player.
“Sometimes people might perceive the negative body language he might display as him being frustrated and angry.
“But he is actually really selfcritical. He has very high standards for himself and if he doesn’t quite meet them he shows that externally.
“But this shows me that he cares. And when they care, there is a good chance you will be able to affect them.”
Also on target for Town were Josh
Koroma, who opened the scoring on 38 minutes, Reece Brown and Matty Daly.
Eros Grezda equalised for Rangers on 57 minutes, but Brown restored Town’s lead with a powerful low drive on 66.
Mbenza netted from close range to extend the lead and made it 4-1 from the spot nine minutes from time, after Koroma was fouled.
Daly completed the scoring four minutes from time with a neat chipped finish following a shortcorner move, rounding off an impressive victory.