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Posh 2, Leicester 0 - What a fantastic day
SURELY it cannot get any better than this for Posh fans. Great football, local derby wins, top-of-the-table triumphs, managerial mastery and an owner who shrugs off the loss of another million quid as though he's lost 50p down the back of the sofa.
SURELY it cannot get any better than this for Posh fans. Great football, local derby wins, top-of-the-table triumphs, managerial mastery and an owner who shrugs off the loss of another million quid as though he's lost 50p down the back of the sofa.There have been many memorable days at London Road in the last couple of seasons, but this was one of the greatest.
The emphatic destruction, and that's what it was despite the relative closeness of the scoreline, of Leicester, the only team above Posh in the League One table, does the whole club enormous credit.
There can be no denying that these are heady days and even the full house phobia of recent seasons appears to have joined hoof-ball and hostility towards managers in the Posh history bin.
Now the feel-good factor is such that even the unused substitutes are given a standing ovation as they sprint up and down the pitch after the game.
Of course in the eyes of most Posh fans they are supporting a club full of heroes from the boardroom down to the groundstaff. Indeed it comes as something of a surprise that chairman Darragh MacAnthony, a man afforded a god-like reverence at London Road, is unable to control the weather.
Match facts
POSH 2
Lee (44 mins), Whelpdale (80 mins)
LEICESTER 0
REFEREE: Chris Foy (Leicestershire) 6
ATTENDANCE: 14,110
More reaction
Fergie praises players for a magnificent March.
We showed everyone just how good we are - Mackail-Smith.
Lee: 'Goal was a swing and hope'.
No complaints or excuses from Leicester City boss Pearson.
'Charlie deserves a medal - he has played well in every position'.
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This was a horrible day for football. The wind raged, while the rain arrived in regular angry bursts and for 44 minutes two teams who can play prettily were rendered rather impotent by conditions.
But then Charlie Lee took control of a half-cleared corner, danced past two opponents and unleashed a superbly accurate swerving shot into the corner of the net. Or that's how it looked to the innocent observer even after the modest Lee admitted he had swung his weaker left foot as much in hope as in anticipation.
Until that moment Posh had struggled. They were regularly caught in possession and when they weren't they gave the ball away with reckless abandon, but Leicester lacked the punch up front to take advantage of decent territory.
Lloyd Dyer shanked their best opportunity wide midway through the half. Otherwise all attacks floundered on Lee and Gaby Zakuani – two players who are achieving the unthinkable in taking attention away from the club's Holy Trinity of strikers.
But it was a different tale after the break. Posh started fast and continued at such a relentless pace, 'The Foxes' were soon flagging and only when Zakuani was forced to block a Paul Dickov drive and when substitute Barry Hayles headed over did the table-toppers look likely to save some face.
In contrast Posh enhanced their reputation with every surging attack. Craig Mackail-Smith was twice sent through by Paul Coutts and Aaron Mclean, but missed the target on both occasions, Mclean saw a diving header from a Coutts corner well saved by keeper Tony Warner and Dean Keates rattled the crossbar from a 25 yard free-kick.
Playing against the gale seemed to help with the ball holding up sufficiently for the Posh forwards to keep tiring defenders under pressure, and 10 minutes from time a more realistic final scoreline was finally confirmed.
And it was a stunning goal in both preparation and execution. Mackail-Smith, whose touch often belied the blustery conditions, may have used a hand to control a clearance on the left touch-line, but a power-packed surge across field was matched by a precise pass which Chris Whelpdale controlled perfectly before despatching a fierce shot into the bottom corner. Continued on next page...The high-class goal capped an exhilarating second-half display and one suspects fans and players alike didn't come down to earth until Millwall's 92nd minute winner at Crewe arrived.
That goal alone should ensure that no-one gets too far ahead of themselves. Leicester's poor performance and some embarrassing public squabbling which inevitably involved Dickov (possibly the most appropriately named player since Rafael Scheidt left Celtic), suggests that the League One title is still up for grabs.
But they have good players to come back, while Posh still have to survive a potentially hazardous trip to the Lions' Den.
Posh have won nothing yet, except the gratitude of a city for another pulsating 40 games of football.
Indeed managing the euphoria and expectation this latest win has generated may be harder than managing his players in the final six games for boss Darren Ferguson, a shoo-in for manager of the month after a magnificent March of six successive victories.
Player facts
Joe Lewis 6
Not a save to make which shows how well they played in front of him, kicked well.
Russell Martin 7
Kept Dyer very quiet and sensibly played it safety first at the back.
Tommy Williams 6
One or two scary moments, but battled hard throughout.
Gaby Zakuani 8
Another error-free display from team's most consistent defender.
Charlie Lee 9 (Star man)
Brilliant defensively and scored a superb goal.
Paul Coutts 7
His coolness in possession belies his inexperience.
Chris Whelpdale 8
Stunning finish to seal victory, impressive work-rate up and down the wing.
Dean Keates 7
Does the dirty work well and hit the bar from free-kick.
George Boyd 6
Not a day for the flair players, but did his bit for the team.
Aaron Mclean 7
Considerable nuisance, created chances and saw fine header well saved.
Craig Mackail-Smith 8
Missed chances, but work ethic is astonishing and brilliant set-up for second goal.
Substitutes
Shaun Batt: (for Mackail-Smith, 90 mins).
Sergio Torres: (not used).
Chris Westwood: (not used).
James McKeown: (not used).
Shane Blackett: (not used).
LEICESTER RATINGS
Tony Warner 7
Kerrea Gilbert 6
Joe Mattock 6
Jack Hobbs 6
Patrick Kisnorbo 6
Max Alain-Gradel 6
Bruno Berner 5
Matt Oakley 6
Lloyd Dyer 5
Matty Fryatt 6
Paul Dickov 6
Barry Hayles: (for Berner, 61 mins).
Nicky Adams: (for Dyer, 72 mins).
Michael Morrison: (not used).
Wayne Brown: (not used).
David Stockdale: (not used).
Yellow cards:
Posh – Lee (foul).
Leicester – Warner (time wasting), Gradel (foul), Berner (foul).
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
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