Posh 0, Derby 3 - Two sent off; but don't blame the referee
DREADFUL decisions cost Posh this match, but not the ones made by hapless referee Nigel Miller.
DREADFUL decisions cost Posh this match, but not the ones made by hapless referee Nigel Miller.As bad as Miller was, and he was certainly useless enough to be confident of finding summer work as a cricket umpire specialising in TV reviews, the errors made by the Posh centre-backs ultimately condemned their side to another demoralising defeat.
Craig Morgan's long-range launch at Dudley 'DJ' Campbell on 28 minutes and Ryan Bennett's fatal dithering on the edge of his own penalty area in first-half injury-time effectively handed Derby a comfortable win which flattered their actual performance. Both incidents led to red cards, and while four-goal half-time deficits are within the range of a full Posh complement, nine men against 12 for 45 minutes was too tough an ask.
Bennett's subsequent foul on Campbell also enabled Steve Davies to give Derby the lead from the penalty spot. It was to Posh's great credit that they didn't crumble, but sympathetic pats on the head are pretty meaningless to a side edging nearer to relegation by the week, a fact confirmed by Campbell's two second-half goals.
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Match details:
Posh 0
Derby 3
GOALS: Derby - Davies (pen, 45 mins), Campbell (48 mins, 75 mins).
SENDINGS OFF: Posh - Morgan (serious foul play), Bennett (denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity).
CAUTIONS: Posh - Coutts (foul).
Derby - Hunt (foul).
REFEREE: Nigel Miller (Durham) 4
ATTENDANCE: 10,280.
Reaction:
Cooper so proud of his battling players.
Griffiths convinced we can still get out of the bottom three.
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The only defence for the Posh offenders was the leniency Miller showed when confronted by Derby's persistent fouling in a feisty opening to a vital match. He could have issued many yellow cards in the first half-an-hour, but instead awarded just one to Nicky Hunt for time-wasting.
It all frustrated the home crowd who were similarly unamused by Robbie Savage appearing to run the referee as well as the match. Posh have a lot to learn in terms of gamesmanship as well as defending at Championship level.
The indiscretions of Morgan and Bennett also ruined what was developing into a fine end-to-end spectacle. Both sides used the generous space on offer to create chances and force action.
Posh boss Mark Cooper handed four loan players their debuts and introduced a new 'Mac Attack' of Craig Mackail-Smith and Izale McLeod. McLeod missed a golden opportunity to announce his arrival in the third minute when freed by George Boyd's glorious through-ball.
But Derby passed the ball more accurately more often and threatened a breakthrough when Campbell volleyed wide and when Davies saw a free header superbly saved by Joe Lewis midway through the half.
Even with 10 men Posh looked dangerous with Mackail-Smith ignoring a lack of official protection to continually harass two ponderous centre-backs, but the ball never drops kindly to struggling sides in vital areas.
After the break it was an exercise in damage limitation, especially after Campbell fired home two minutes after the re-start after Lewis had made a fine block of his first shot.
At this point playing three small defenders (Charlie Lee had arrived as a first-half sub to replace Morgan) and keeping four in midfield looked a gamble, but Posh comfortably repelled the few Derby attacks that weren't ruined by poor passing and crossing. Scott Griffiths made numerous blocks and interceptions to continue his impressive start at London Road.
Campbell eventually found the space to head home a third goal at the far post 15 minutes from time, but from then on the nine men looked more likely to score.
Boyd and another dbutant Jake Livermore stung the hands of Derby keeper Stephen Bywater who was also well positioned to defy Mackail-Smith when he was played through by Boyd. Livermore was outstanding in the second half showing composure on the ball as well as dribbling skills and a fierce shot.
The new boys may yet galvanise a side shorter on quality than spirit and effort, but time is rapidly running out for a team who specialise in playing teams back into form. Coventry and Sheffield United spring to mind as well as Saturday's opponents.
The players who showed sufficient self-control to stay on the pitch did at least leave London Road to an obvious show of appreciation from the crowd.
Miller, who even ended the match bizarrely by halting a Posh attack to award a contested drop-ball because a balloon was on the pitch, was afforded a rather different sort of farewell - both were entirely justified.
Player ratings:
Peterborough United
Joe Lewis 7
A brilliant save in the first half and surprisingly not tested too much after the break
KERREA GILBERT 6
Looked rusty defensively, obviously quick but circumstances of match stopped him attacking
RYAN BENNETT 5
Never mind the worthiness of his red card, his own error caused the problem
CRAIG MORGAN 5
Reckless red-card challenge will haunt him and his team-mates
PAUL COUTTS 6
Looked decent running with the ball, but appeared to spend a lot of time moaning at referee
JAKE LIVERMORE 8
Slow to get involved, but looked very classy in the second half
REUBEN REID 6
Worked hard and created a couple of decent opportunities for himself
George Boyd 6
Started with a stunning pass, finished with a stunning strike at goal, little in between though
IZALE McLEOD 6
Missed a good early chance, but then sacrificed when down to 10 men
Crag Mackail-Smith 8
Outstanding display first half, ran himself silly for 90 minutes
Substitutes:
Subs:
Charlie Lee: (for Mcleod, 33 mins) Battled away gamely 6
Aaron Mclean: (for Coutts, 61 mins).
Josh Simpson: (for Reid, 67 mins).
Tommy Williams: (not used).
James McKeown: (not used).
Chris Whelpdale: (not used).
Shaun Batt: (not used).
Derby
Stephen Bywater 7
Nicky Hunt 6
Dean Moxey 6
Shaun Barker 6
Jake Buxton 6
Robbie Savage 6
Paul Green 7
Lee Johnson 6
Stephen Pearson 6
Dudley Campbell 7
Steve Davies 6
Substitutes:
Chris Porter: (for Davies, 63 mins).
Kris Commons: (for Savage, 67 mins).
Russell Anderson: (for Barker, 77 mins).
James McEveley: (not used).
Rob Hulse: (not used).
Saul Deeney: (not used).
Lee Hendrie: (not used).
Match preview:
Mclean could still figure in relegation battle.
Savage defends the under-fire players.
Spotlight on Derby County - 15/01/10
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