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Posh 1, Carlisle 0 - Macca at the wheel of Posh promotion drive
IT could have been an attempt at irony by match sponsors Peterborough Raceway to award the man-of-the-match to a player with so many recent driving difficulties.
IT could have been an attempt at irony by match sponsors Peterborough Raceway to award the man-of-the-match to a player with so many recent driving difficulties.But Aaron Mclean, a man currently generating headlines at both ends of this newspaper, was a worthy recipient of the bragging rights and cheap champagne.
It wasn't just that Mclean bagged his fifth goal in five games – and his second match-winning strike in succession – it was his all-round display that impressed the sponsors, the Posh fans and his manager.
Darren Ferguson, who almost turned into Barry Fry by jigging down the touchline in delight when Mclean struck in the 69th minute of a nervy Posh performance, clearly recognises the worth of the team's emotional leader on and off the field.
"Aaron's been outstanding in recent weeks," Ferguson enthused. "He's not just a top player on the pitch, he's superb in the dressing room and on the training ground. He's a great bloke to have around the place full stop."
Mclean is driven by a deep desire to play in the Championship. He felt he had a chance last summer when Wolves came knocking on the door, but he's shrugged off that setback to turn in another outstanding personal season and Posh are starting to reap the rewards.
Now is the time of the season when the big guns must fire and, while the other high profile stars George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith had relative off-nights, Mclean stepped up to the plate to clinch the win that must have the hated MK Dons looking nervously over their shoulder.
Posh were ordinary for much of this contest against a lively and committed Carlisle side, but Charlie Lee's excellent ball to Chris Whelpdale 21 minutes from time was controlled in an instant by the substitute who crashed a shot into the legs of visiting keeper Ben Williams.
But there was Mclean steaming in to convert the rebound and seal a win that was just about deserved, especially as Posh had to overcome the loss of two players to injury before half-time.
The concern over Gaby Zakuani, after an awkward fall in the ninth minute, ensured nine minutes of injury time in the first half, while midfielder Lee Frecklington later limped out of the action with hamstring trouble.
Zakuani's departure – and thankfully the early diagnosis wasn't too bad – did enable Shane Blackett to taste first-team action for the first time in four months, ironically against the same opposition he last faced, and he did well enough against a decent strike force in Danny Graham and Joe Anyinsah.
Perhaps understandably given the level of disruption Posh laboured for most of the first half. Ferguson even abandoned his 4-3-3 formation before Frecklington's withdrawal as Carlisle's positive approach took him by surprise.
The high line drawn by the visiting defence forced Ferguson to move the speedy Mackail-Smith back alongside Mclean, but it took a while to take a positive effect.
Mackail-Smith sent one header over the bar, while Paul Coutts twice shot reasonably accurately from distance, but Carlisle fluffed the best opportunity before the break when Graham met Lewis Neal's free-kick six yards out only to see Joe Lewis make a fine instinctive save.
Carlisle hammered plenty of long balls after the interval and failed to seriously worry Lewis once Graham's sizzler had flashed past a post from the edge of the area.
Gradually Posh got on top with Mackail-Smith missing a sitter with his head from Boyd's quality cross before Mclean struck.
Whelpdale and Mackail-Smith were thwarted by Williams in the closing stages as Posh saw out the game in some comfort.
Winning when not at your best is a great skill of promotion-winning sides and Posh have managed it twice in succession now.
Clean sheets may be the key now as with the likes of Mclean around there will usually be a goal at the other end.
NEXT PAGE: Match facts and the ratingsMatch facts
POSH 1
Mclean (69 mins).
CARLISLE 0
REFEREE: Graham Scott (Oxford) 7
ATTENDANCE: 5,103 (267 Carlisle).
Yellow cards:
Posh – Chester (foul).
The ratings
Joe Lewis 7
Made a crucial stop in first-half injury time. Handled the low shots perfectly
Russell Martin 5
Looked hesitant and nervy
Gaby Zakuani 6
Crashed out of the game early on
James Chester 6
Didn't pass the ball as well as he can, defended adequately
Charlie Lee 7
Great ping helped create the opening goal, on a good run of form
Lee Frecklington 6
Had little influence on game before limping off before half-time
Paul Coutts 6
A mixed bag of strong runs and erratic passing
Dean Keates 7
Holding the midfield together with his tackling and positional sense
George Boyd 5
Far from his own high standards, still created golden opportunity with quality cross
Craig Mackail-Smith 6
Doesn't look happy out wide, missed opportunities when moved inside
Aaron Mclean 8 (Star man)
Always lively, good finish, excellent work-rate, on top of his game
Substitutes
Shane Blackett: (for Zakuani, 17 mins): Very sound job against decent strikers 7
Chris Whelpdale: (for Frecklington, 45 mins): Big part in goal, almost scored later on 7
Not used: Ben Wright, Sergio Torres, Dominic Green.
Carlisle ratings
Ben Williams 8
Michael Liddle 6
Tony Kane 6
Richard Keogh 7
Peter Murphy 7
Graham Kavanagh 6
Paul Thirlwell 6
Cleveland Taylor 5
Lewis Neal 7
Danny Graham 7
Joe Anyinsah 6
Scott Dobie: (for Anyinsah, 72 mins).
Michael Bridges: (for Neal, 81 mins).
Dave Raven: (not used).
Gary Madine: (not used).
Chris Lumsden: (not used).
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