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Posh 0, Portsmouth 3 - Posh flop in horror show
Peterborough United v Portsmouth at London Road: Pompey keeper Stephen Henderson makes a rare save. Photo: Ben Davis/Peterborough ET
Championship report: How horrible was this? Picture England’s batting against sub-continental spin, add the smell of the London Road loos and then accept that there will be yet another series of Celebrity Big Brother and you’ll almost be there.
This was jaw-droppingly awful. The most painful 90 minutes at London Road since Doncaster’s team of pub footballers and no-marks beat Barry Fry’s promotion-chasers almost 14 years ago.
It certainly wasn’t the Posh of Darren Ferguson that set foot on the pitch. His team are dazzling pass-masters who play with pace, freedom of expression and no fear, even in the exalted company the Championship provides.
No, this was a team of imposters who found the five-yard forward pass impossible, failed to win a meaningful tackle, didn’t create a solitary decent goal-scoring opportunity against a side with more away-day blues than a Tory in Scotland and made so many elementary errors the match DVD will surely be assigned an 18 certificate’.
Match details: Championship match at London Road, 28 Janury 2012
POSH 0
PORTSMOUTH 3
GOALS: Portsmouth - Huseklepp (5 mins & 80 mins), Pearce (42 mins).
CAUTIONS: None.
REFEREE: David Webb 7
ATTENDANCE: 7,555 (1,276 Portsmouth).
===========
For 90 minutes it was difficult to keep the fact that this is a club over-reaching itself in terms of fanbase, finance and squad strength to the front of one’s mind.
To manage that would be to accept that poor performances are inevitable and forgivable, although a team exceeding expectations in a quite splendid fashion still cannot be excused a bad report when things go so terribly wrong.
This was a miserable day from the moment the public confirmation of goalkeeper Joe Lewis on the teamsheet was greeted by jeers from some home ‘supporters’.
A first touch of the ball for Lee Tomlin, who appears to be the second most unpopular performer at London Road after Adele these days, drew similar comments, thus instantly offering excuses for individual errors of the kind Lewis served up after five minutes.
Portsmouth have been bad travellers this season so a gift-wrapped goal when Lewis spilled a tame header enabling Erik Huseklepp to convert from close range at the second attempt was a terrific boost, but even then they could not have foreseen how comfortable the next hour-and-a-half would be.
Visiting goalkeeper Stephen Henderson could have been forgiven for pulling up a comfy chair and slipping on his favourite slippers as Posh, while passing the ball around expertly in their own half, became riddled with self-doubt when viewing the Pompey penalty area on the horizon.
Even the shortest of passes were often misplaced or intercepted, dreadful control was commonplace, crosses were over-hit, optimistic shots were taken on from distance and the obvious problems Pompey risked by fielding slow-turning centre-halves at full-back were ignored despite Tommy Rowe sailing past Tal Ben Haim twice before Portsmouth had even taken the lead.
Faced with such incompetence the visitors could not fail to grow in confidence. Lewis made a superb stop (a fact greeted with disappointing indifference by his knockers) to thwart Liam Lawrence midway through the first- half and another to deny the same player after the break.
Jason Pearce had headed home a Lawrence corner to make it 2-0 three minutes before the break before Huseklepp took advantage of some casual play from Ryan Bennett to skilfully slot home a third goal 10 minutes from time.
It was no more than Pompey and Posh deserved. Winning boss Michael Appleton admitted he devised his matchday masterplan simply by watching the three most recent Posh home performances on DVD, while losing manager Darren Ferguson insisted it was a failure in form rather than tactics.
Ferguson, who appeared surprisingly serene after the match, suggested beforehand that a change in formation was under consideration, but, unless these alterations are too intricate for a hack with fading eyesight, the midfield diamond was preserved for the first hour before a 4-3-3 was introduced for the final third.
Neither system functioned. George Boyd’s commitment and effort cannot be questioned, but he was seen collecting the ball off his centre-backs in the first half and kept popping up at left-back after the break which is a criminal waste of his old attacking abilities.
Grant McCann and Lee Frecklington failed to bring their best passing games to the table which undoubtedly affected young Joe Newell’s chances of making in impression.
Tomlin, a surprising inclusion on form and discipline issues, was again an irrelevance.
Only Paul Taylor’s habit of turning and running at defenders offered any hope even if the quality of his long-distance shooting was flattered by a keeper who dived unnecessarily all afternoon.
Posh player profiles:
JOE LEWIS 5
Made a couple of fine saves, but his early blunder for opening goal was a crucial moment
CRAIG ALCOCK 5
Was usually an available outlet, but crossed the ball poorly. Defended okay
TOMMY ROWE 5
The odd early dash from left-back was soon forgotten amid a stream of poor passes and crosses
RYAN BENNETT 5
Alarmingly sloppy for final goal and some ‘Hollywood’ balls that were horribly ill-advised
GABY ZAKUANI 6
Always plays with heart and commitment
GRANT McCANN 4
Never seen him pass or control the ball so badly, so often
LEE FRECKLINGTON 4
Was he really ready to return? Constantly lost possession
JOE NEWELL 4
Hard for a kid to play in a team so obviously lacking in confdence
GEORGE BOYD 5
Surged forward a lot and struck a few long-range shots off target. Still the biggest attacking threat
LEE TOMLIN 4
Was as quiet as his Twitter feed. He’s a player totally out of form
PAUL TAYLOR 6
Popped up everywhere, but the closer he got the opposition goal, the worse he became
Substitutes:
David Ball: (for Newell, 53 mins)
Mark Little: (for Tomlin, 60 mins)
Ryan Tunnicliffe: (for Frecklington, 63 mins)
Emile Sinclair: (not used)
Paul Jones: (not used)
Add your comments below, email alan.swann@jpress.co.uk or Tweet @etposh using hashtag #pufc
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Comments
There are 90 comments to this article
Page 1 of 6
maiakaat
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:50 PM@81 I don't have an xbox, play fifa or football manager, but I have come far enough through life to learn to be patient, to know not to bite the hand that feeds you when a few mistakes have been made, and that encouragement and mentoring get you much further than anger and resentment, especially when those people have already delivered beyond what anyone could have imagined before they arrived, and are in it for the long haul, not 2 seasons in the championship and then bankruptcy and league 2. Every time a bad patch appears the torrent of abuse on these sites is horrendous, I have never known such a bunch of nasty, hostile, FICKLE, stupid people, got a problem, don't go, wait until were back in L2, then you have a right to moan, until then remember words have consequences, and people have feelings. Or are you too stupid and fickle to get that into your head and keep it there for more than a few minutes. The players are young, some will make it some wont, this climate is making new players a hard task, this is what we have, 1 month, known to be the toughest 2 months of the season from before Christmas, you are all acting like idiots in a horror film.
thePOSHfandotcom
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:49 PMCheers GNAT! I used to hear it loud and clear in the LR end...as long as the players get it loud and clear and feel cheered Onto the pitch than all the better, although in those days you didn't do the line up and shake hands bit, you just got almost straight into the match! Never mind it's either Adele or wiggly worms (cheers suzyQ )
GNAT
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:38 PM#www.J95.me #80. The rallying army horn you mentioned was actually the tally ho fox hunting horn . And it really doesnt matter what music they play cos you cant hear it in most areas of the ground cos the sound system is still so bad lol . Up the Posh. Keep the Faith.
robpufc
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 08:46 PMPending Moderation
Roger LeChat
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 07:44 PM#53..Grow up Jans7labs, writing in block capitals doesn't make it any louder or any more correct. Perhaps you should go back and read your own comment before you start saying what you thought you had said. It is quite obvious your tactical and managerial skills are only bettered by your spelling ability, now do what you promised and stay away until you can debate sensibly.
yardyr
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 06:28 PMHas anyone read the Portsmouth managers comments including DF.Watched DVD of Poshs last 3 home gamesand knew how to stop us.Teams and finding us out and we dont know how to deal with it. As for Paul Jones he must have had a long enough rest now, since that was the reason given by DF for dropping him in the first place.Surely Lewis could with a rest by now. Lets not forget where we came from. 5 year ago when DM and DF took over we lost 5 or 6 games on the trot in league 2 and Pompey were mid table in the Prem.While we get home gate of 7-8000 we will always small fish in a big pond,success will be keeping in this league,even if it means scoring with the last kick of the final match to gets the points to keep us at this level.
posh forever
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 05:45 PMLook, it can't get any worse... Burnley on Saturday: lets hope that Jones is in goal... and then, you never know. A point would be welcome for anyone, and if they work hard all week and they start playing the way they can and in the positive manner of earlier this season, then we could, you never know, get 3 points. Get behind the boys though, bad form happens to everyone, and lets hope we can pull out of it asap... lets just hope for a point and a good performance from our key personel (mccann, boyd, ryan, gabby, taylor...). lets stay positive - remember the saying: keep calm and carry on .... utp
feduppete
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 04:14 PMUnfortunately we don't possess the players with the passing skills required at this level. They stand around waiting for the ball to come to them, not go to the ball. Also it takes too long when they have received the ball to bring it under control unlike most established championship players. Surely you have all noticed. Also, by the time they have decided what to do with it, the opposition has regrouped, hence any goalscoring chances have receded. Bringing Jones back might help with team confidence for a start. There's nothing worse than having a dodgy goalie behind you in defence. The team should work on their passing accuracy as well. I can't help thinking the opposition has sussed us out 2nd half of the season though.
suzyQ
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 04:09 PMNo, I think this is a much better anthem, my son loves it............ Excuse the carp formatting caused by the rubbish feedback coding............................................................................................................. Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go eat worms! Big fat juicy ones, Eensie weensy squeensy ones, See how they wiggle and squirm! Down goes the first one, down goes the second one, Oh how they wiggle and squirm! Up comes the first one, up comes the second one, Oh how they wiggle and squirm! I bite off the heads, and suck out the juice, And throw the skins away! Nobody knows how fat I grow, On worms three times a day! Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go eat worms! Big fat juicy ones, Eensie weensy squeensy ones, See how they wiggle and squirm!
Danhar
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 04:03 PM@78 get back to playing Fifa 12 on your xbox mate, I suppose your one of these true fans who will not have anyone saying a thing against anything to do with Posh. We'll cheer and praise when its good and slate when we think it not. Also deluded if you think Rowe is any good at all. Head scout making a difference, Ball went away and back in side cus there's no-one else, Ajose sent away cus he upset Fergie, Sinclair enough said and we payed money for the guy, Alcock I'll give you that one, he's a quality left back altho Fergie likes him playing on the right now, DOH! Wooton & Tunnicliffe are here cus of his dad, nothing to do with scouting!
thePOSHfandotcom
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:29 PMI think they should bring back the Adele song: One and Only to walk out on the pitch too, I actually like the song but the first time we don't all season against Pompey (Can't recall what we came out to this time around?) we played really really bad...I think it effected the team! I hope they didn't change it based on what Perry Groves said about it last week on the telly...? Phil Adlam, what is going on mate? Remember the military horn thing we used to come out to in the Chris Turner days? That kind of rallying army horn sound that one would have heard in the good old battles of the revolution in the US in the 1800's...is that a bit vague to recall chaps?
maiakaat
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:09 PMWe are lucky the weaker teams had such a poor first half to the season, we have grabbed 33 points while the rest of the teams are finding their feet, this is frankly nothing less than needed, and that fergie pulled it off is brilliant. Now teams are settled, all are a lot stronger, and good results are going to have to be really ground out, we should be excited that some of the teams are so weak that we have a real chance of staying in the division and building for next season, both in facilities and playing staff, all we need is 6 wins, or 4-5 wins and a few draws, and at the end of the season everybody always beats everybody as the pressure really kicks in, and this squad can handle the pressure when the crowd is behind them.
maiakaat
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:03 PMAs usual, a stream of insults, hopefully it's only 50 fans, and as for the dropping gate, it was a lot lower when Gary Johnson was manager. When the midfield can function normally Taylor is more than good enough once he gets within 20 yards of the goal. Tomlin is in need of a rest, but to lose him because of hostile fans at the end of the season is a disaster, he needs the rest of the season to find himself again, unfortunately I don't think not giving him the chance would have been the right thing to do, he has now had the chance and we have two creative players on the pitch again. As for formation, Fergie said they are working on a plan B, it seems it is just not working on the pitch just yet. Yes we probably need another class midfielder, and covering defender, but where else is anybody going to play, we have three centre forwards on the bench, all of which could make it at championship level, they deserve this season to try to adapt. Unfortunately McCann needs a few games for match fitness, and Tunnicliffe would have been the better attacking forward option over Frecklington, but if we were winning nobody would have said anything, manager can make mistakes, the onslaught against fergie, his job should be safe as long as we are challenging for L1 promotion or the Championship, he is clearly developing well, the head scout has made a huge improvement on quality of players coming in, and to attack him now is frankly fickle and pathetic. Lewis yes maybe its time to drop him, but the fans attack of him is a disgrace, and Rowe is a hard working young player and doesn't deserve the constant criticism of the fans, although a class midfielder would be welcomed we can't get our targets, so that is that, he plays at left back or in midfield if needed. Now Alcock is coming under fire, this is plain rediculous, we cannot afford a team of Boyds, Bennetts and McCanns, Portsmouth have several players with premier league quality, they have just had a massive lift on their future days before playing us. You are all fickle, and good people are not going to take it forever, and it will be our loss.
ForeverPosh
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:32 AM#71. Yes. The same players who surprised and entertained us through the first half of the season are increasingly looked timid and tired. Small over-performing squad and a few unlucky results which sow the seeds of self doubt. So I see little point in telling people to 'work harder' - they need a little help. A 'fresh face' or two (if we have the money and as long as their faces fit), I'm not sure Lewis inspires the confidence of the outfield players in the same way as Jones, and I wonder what it feels like playing alongside Tomlin in the team at present. Also, more support, week in, week out, for the most entertaining Posh team I have seen in the last fifty years....
It'sPOSHupNorth
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:59 AMSomething fishy about that if you ask me SuzyQ
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