Not at our best but a reasonable result

After the disappointing result last week which was caused mainly by poor refereeing the only real result that would keep alive our slim hopes of making the Play Offs was a victory and in all honesty it was not an ideal fixture as our record against Peterborough has not been very good at all and even a draw was against the odds.  There were no real surprises in the line up taking into account the injury/international call ups that left us six players unable to be considered and we started the game under the cosh for the first twenty minutes but it has to be said that a lot of our problems were our own making and the inadequacy of the linesman. Our part in that was mainly in midfield where we gave possession away far too easily and at times it was the simple passes that we were messing up with Lines and Ollie Clarke the main offenders although Sercombe too was struggling to get involved. The linesman for his part was struggling to get his decisions right and on at least two occasions he missed clear offside situations that could have cost us a goal.It was very much a game that we worked our way into and to be honest come half time I felt a lot more comfortable and had high hopes that we could actually win this game and with Plymouth losing at Charlton 2-0 and several other teams not doing that well it could really have been interesting come 5 o'clock. The second half came to life with the goal and surely if Harrison had finished we would have won, instead we found ourselves back to square one within three minutes. There was a definite penalty appeal which surely last weeks referee would have given when Broadbent was clearly impeded but as has been the case far too often this season we have not got the rub of the green but to be fair to Peterborough a defeat would have been harsh on them and a draw was probably a fair result for two good teams neither of whom were at their very best.

Slocombe 6.5 Another mixed performance which included a "Puddy Wembley" like incident where he was caught it no mans land crying out to be chipped but saved the effort inside his box rather than outside and a crazy flap at the ball in a melee inside the six yard box.Those incidents aside he made two excellent saves especially the dive low to his left to turn the ball around the post when it looked oddss on a goal.

Partington 6.5 For me he lacks the pace to be a top class full back in this division and against speedy opponents was caught oiut too often and gave them too much space as well as being very wasteful with a couple of crosses. There were good moments as well when he looked calm and efficient hence a reasonable mark.
J. Clarke 7 Did OK and it is good to have him back for his versatility.
Broadbent 7 Overall did very well in a comeback appearnce but there were a couple of moments where he tried to be creative where he should have put his foot through the ball. If he can get his decision making right we will have a very good p-layer on our hands but for me at the moment experience over naivity is the correct Management of the situation although IMO Lockyer should really have to fight to get his place back like most other players. having said that did we miss Tom? IMO we did so i can understand if DC hands him his place back. Broadbent did have some great moments where his ability on the ball shone through and overall can be proud of his contribution both yesterday and this season.
Craig 8 MOM Best performance so far from him and got a deserved first goal which was just reward as was very unlucky with a stinging volley that just cleared the crossbar and also "assisted" his goal witha first header that was cleared off the line with the help of a hand but luckily he followed it up with a ferocious shot into the roof of the net as it was clear that the referee was not going to give a penalty. He also kept us the point with a great block when the Posh forward had turned Partington inside out.
Bola 5.5 Early booking that really condemned him to an early bath as twice afterwards he was unable to make a tackle because with the standard of referees we are getting there was too great a chance of him being sent off and it was a great decision by the Manager to bring him off.

Lines 7 Set up the goal with a great cross from a free kick and probably our best midfielder although it was an area of the pitch where we were far too wasteful and he did overdo a couple of passes where he tried to hit the ball long instead of the simple pass and ended up giving the ball away cheaply but he was far from being the only one!
O. Clarke 6 Very much a mixed bag with far too many wasteful possessions given away and looking a yard off the pace. It really was a case of doing OK with the difficult passes and failing to deliver the straightforward. This is another position where I feel DC has to find a better option in the summer if we are to improve as a team.
Sercombe 6.5 Not at his best but tried hard to make things happen and should probably have done better with a clear chance in the second half. Feel a more central role is essential to see the best of him.He can be well pleased with his first season and I really look forward to seeing a midfield built around him.
Bennett 6 Not at his best but I like to watch his trickery and skill even if at times he takes on the extra player too often and ends up losing the ball without the physique to win it back. In this game really he made a good start but got worse as the game went on  but at least he is always trying things and aiming to be creative which we really seem to lack in our overall play. His substitution was the correct decision but for me he has been a great signing and I am sure he has a big part to play more likely to be in the hole rather than out wide.

Harrison 7 Probably missed our best chance with a clever flick that lacked the power and was heading wide before being cleared by the home defender. Ellis does not have an easy task leading the line pretty well single handedly as well as having to be back in our area to make aerial clearances. he has had a great season but if we can hold on to him in the summer surely DC's first task must be to find the partner who can finish regularly or perhaps Ellis could be that man and needs a physical player to lead the line. Yesterday was another busy performance from him and the Posh defenders knew they had been in a game.

Subs:
Gaffney 5.5 Tried hard but unfortunately he is not the answer to our goalscoring problems and for all his effort he too often gives possession away.
Mensah 6 Gave a reasonable account of himself in a cameo appearance that for me showed signs of hope and I would like to see a bit more of him this season. Looks quite strong in the air and probably would have scored a late winner from a good move had he the real match fitness by playing more games.
Nichols NOLE Not on very lomg but yet another case of on too long. perhaps we are yet to see the true player but the question for me and DC is will we ever see the true player. Perhaps it is a case of writing off this season and not giving up hope for him next season.

Crowd 7 A reasonable turn out but everything about it signalled to me a support who have now given up on the Play offs and are winding down for the summer holidays. Can't go without mentioning the "Ball in the skip" competition at half trime where Gary Shiel; that veteran of 30 years without missing a game showed his silky skills by winning the event by chipping two "hole in ones" and winning a £50 voucher against hiring skips in Peterborough!! You really would thinka club like Posh could afford to at least provide a decent prize even if it is for fun but there again with the prices of the seats it is not overall surprising!

Ref 3 Another homer who gave us very little all game and this is becoming all too familiar and add to that a clueless linesman who just couldn't position himself quickly enough to be able to see some obvious offsides from speedy opponents. Is it too much to ask to have officials who are consistent in their decisions? It certainly appears to be!

Peterborough 6.5 IMO a good attacking side who have pacy players and always look dangerous but like ourselves appear to be inconsistent. Having a player with nearly thirty goals they really should be in the top three as I am sure if we had a similar player we would now be chasing automatics.

DC Can't fault himn in any way on the best result that we have had at London Road for many a year and had we been a little less wasteful it would have been a massive three points. To have so many players missing and still be able to contain what for me are one of the best attacks in the division is job well done Darrell. It could so easy have been six points in these two difficult games both made harder by the level of officialating and instead we have just one point to show and probably our Play Off hopes gone with them as to catch up 7 points (with our goal difference) in just eight games is a tough task especially taking into account the lkevel of opposition that we still have to face. Before Christmas I wouldn't have thought I would be saying this but unfortunately it is our fire power that is going to be to blame rather than our defending.Easter is usually a very telling time in any teams season but only six points from our two games will give us an outside chance to make the last six games interesting.

With any other Manager i would definitely say it was Season over and it probably is but with Darrell in charge there is always that hope that maybe the impossible is in fact possible. UTG