Written by kirsikka
After an improved performance if not result at the weekend it was time to get the points along with a performance. We started all action, chasing all over the place and looking like we might carve them open only to spurn the opportunities.
Since the Stoke sending off there does seem to be an element of compensating from refs not wanting to give anything that could be deemed as even slightly soft. Fair enough on Saturday when it was the same for both sides. Not so good tonight when it was a one-way process. A really poor performance from the ref on the non match-changing decisions. And note that I’m often prepared to stick up for refs.
The first half, L Cook really looked a player again. Driving runs and nipping interceptions. Begged the question of what we do when Lerma comes back.
Sloppy defending to concede. Unlucky deflection but even so, the covering wasn’t good and the challenges were poor.
We made lots of openings but snapped at our chances, not even getting them on target. Really wasteful finishing. In the first half, we had 13 attempts on goal, they had 3. From that we had 1 on target, they had 2. That’s the half summed up for you. Did their keeper even make a save from our total of 22 attempts in the match? I don’t recall one.
The second half was an inferior showing than the first. Posh sat back but for all our play, we created fewer clear openings than in the first period.
Promotion is back up for grabs for the chasing pack and we’re the ones that have opened that door. If we don’t go up automatically then failing to beat the teams near the bottom will be a large part of the cause.
I’m struggling with Parker’s thinking here. Failing to break them down and his answer is to put a left-winger that has struggled whenever he’s been played on the right, on at right-back.
Positive performances:
Christie – You can see how he makes the right side tick, and ergo the balance of the side. He’s essential.
L Cook – Excellent first half. Not as impressive in the second, but few were.
Room for improvement:
Billing – Finishing has deserted him and as the auxiliary striker in the formation that’s quite a miss. That two-game suspension might be a blessing in disguise, both to give someone else a chance and to give him an opportunity to reset.
Solanke – He should be bullying defenders struggling at the bottom of the table. He isn’t.
Kelly – Wasteful in possession at times with fairly simply things.
Man of the match against PeterboroughChristie
Phillips
L. Cook
Zemura
Solanke
Dembele
No one
Someone else
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JohnHold wrote…
I thought the first half was great except for (a) the goal and (b) bad decision-making / final ball / shot. Whereas up till a couple of weeks ago we were trying the same movement down either wing, time after time, tonight we had variety and the attempts came from all different directions and parts of the team. Just that none went in. Billing could have had 4, should have had 2. Christie had 2 poor attempts. Solanke had a shot on the turn after a wondrous series of triangles between Cantwell, Billing and Christie. Phillips had 2 good shots from a corner.
The second half, it all went wrong. I can’t blame Solanke – no-one ever gets it to him. The ball stopped going through him and Billing. Dembele was never given the ball in space. Zemura couldn’t link with him and was shaky defensively. Christie kept coming inside, but unlike the first half, Stacey didn’t ever overlap.
To me, Christie is wasted on the wing. Cantwell played like a luxury player. The centre backs have lost shape – look at the last 3 goals we have conceded – and got bullied by Clarke-Harris today. Whatever is going on isn’t getting the best out of Kelly, and WE KNOW from past seasons he is a Rolls-Royce player.
So I fall into the camp of those who want to see us win this league but never have to play in the Prem – no joy in that.
London Cherry added…
Was a really tough watch tonight. Created a few chances first half but so wasteful with our shooting. Christie and Cook the only players for me on form. Seem to be a team lacking in confidence, strange for a promotion hunting team. Was begging Parker to change it up and bring some subs on but he waited to the 87th min, strange! We are still in a great position but it was so exciting 7 years ago, this is a grind. Need to hit back with two wins (and performances) against Derby and Reading. – Join the conversation, click here.
