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Posh 1, Stockport 0 - Posh win... but it was tense
POSH fans are easy to spot around town. They shake nervously, they are without finger-nails and they are very likely hoarse as a result of 90 minutes screaming encouragement and expletives.
POSH fans are easy to spot around town. They shake nervously, they are without finger-nails and they are very likely hoarse as a result of 90 minutes screaming encouragement and expletives.Considering the team has exceeded all expectations in mounting such a sustained bid for Championship football, it can be very hard work watching them. Easy wins have gone the same way as the dodo and Leeds United's automatic promotion hopes.
Take this match as a prime example. Stockport arrived at London Road out of form, confidence, money and soon to be without a manager if rumours are to be believed.
Perfect opponents then for a team chasing such a big prize, especially as the visitors inexplicably chose to field a 16 year-old right-back in Andrew Halls against mercurial winger George Boyd – a bit like asking Lewis Hamilton to keep up with Jenson Button.
And for 30 minutes Posh looked like enjoying a comfortable ride. Possession was hogged, passes were strung together with little opposition, play was switched impressively from wing to win, and Boyd came close to being reported for child cruelty.
Match facts:
Posh 1
Mackail-Smith (24 mins).
Stockport 0
Yellow cards: Posh - Coutts (foul), Boyd (foul).
Referee: Lee Probert (Gloucs) 5.
Attendance: 8,243 (289 Stockport).
Reaction:
Ferguson: We can taste promotion.
Welsh ace Morgan makes a winning return.
Winner was Craig's most important goal.
Stockport angered as Turnbull is booked for diving.
If Green had scored we'd have won more comfortably.
My Posh Day: Ken Charlery - Posh fans were excellent . . . it brought back memories.
Several chances with varying degrees of difficulty came and went in the opening 20 minutes with Boyd firing wide with the outside of his foot, Dean Keates forcing a fine save from visiting keeper Conrad Logan with a header and Paul Coutts twice storming into the penalty area only to see shots blocked.
Craig Mackail-Smith finally broke the deadlock when beating Logan to Aaron Mclean's precise through ball in the 24th minute and Posh fans waited for the opening of the floodgates. It didn't happen as Stockport withdrew Halls and tightened up, although Dominic Green might be alone in knowing how he didn't ensure a calm second half by converting a chance that was not so much golden, as platinum.
Green was a shock selection on the right wing ahead of Chris Whelpdale and did very little in 59 minutes to suggest that it was one of Darren Ferguson's brighter decisions.
Loose in possession and too easily knocked off the ball, the teenager could still have made a key contribution if he hadn't hit the post when the goal was gaping after Logan had parried Mackail-Smith's shot into his path.
Such wastefulness often returns to haunt teams and Posh were fortunate to avoid retribution when Stockport substitute Oli Johnson crashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar after Joe Lewis had palmed Leon McSweeney's free-kick into his path; and when Lewis crashed into Craig Morgan only for Chris O'Grady to scuff his shot into an empty net so badly Charlie Lee trotted back to clear; and in the final minute when Paul Turnbull appeared to be tripped by Keates inside the area, only for referee Lee Probert, who didn't advertise his Premier League credentials too often, to instead book Turnbull for simulation.
Posh looked horribly edgy in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but regained their poise to boss the final stages as Boyd and Mclean missed good opportunities and Whelpdale, who delivered an impressive 30-minute cameo, thumped a 30-yard drive against a post.
There is no doubt however that Posh deserved to win and inch that bit closer to their finishing line. Credit must go to last season's regular centre-backs, Morgan and Chris Westwood, who were re-united for the first time since August and played strongly throughout.
Morgan held up well considering he'd been absent since the end of January, while Westwood's anticipation and calmness again made a lie of suggestions that he's too old and slow for this level of football.
Manager Ferguson also looked calmer than is logical for such a high-pressure situation, but he will doubtless allow himself a rueful smile when recalling Nottingham Forest were promoted with just 82 points 12 months ago.
Ferguson's team already have 85, but they can't shake off MK Dons, who continue to be an annoying presence, in the Football League as well as on Posh's shirt-tails. Next page: player ratingsPlayer ratings:
Posh 1, Stockport 0
Player ratings:
Posh
Joe Lewis 6
A couple of shaky moments, but not called upon to do too much
Russell Martin 5
Looks like there's a bit of tension in his play, good first half though
Charlie Lee 7
Had to rein in his attacking instincts to look after speedy sub
Star player: Chris Westwood 8
Impeccable under pressure, kept nicking the ball off opponents
Paul Coutts 7
Some outstanding drives forward before break, slowed down second half
Dominic Green 5
Shock selection who provided some neat touches, but missed an open goal
Dean Keates 7
Chugs around the middle of the park allowing others to play
George Boyd 7
Tormented a 16 year- old full-back for half-an-hour
Aaron Mclean 6
Excellent pass for only goal, struggled with his quality after that
CraigMackail-Smith 8
Took goal well, didn't display his usual energy levels
Subs:
Chris Whelpdale: (for Green, 59 mins).
Lee Frecklington: (for Coutts, 87 mins).
James McKeown: (not used).
Shaun Batt: (not used).
Danny Blanchett: (not used)
Stockport
Conrad Logan 7
Andrew Halls 5
Tommy Rowe 8
Josh Thompson 6
Michael Raynes 6
Paul Turnbull 7
James Vincent 7
Greg Tansey 5
Leon McSweeney 6
Peter Thompson 5
Chris O'Grady 5
Oli Johnson: (for Halls, 33 mins) 6
Daniel Rowe: (for Tansey, 46 mins) 6
Matty Mainwaring: (for O'Grady, 74 mins)
Michael Rose: (not used).
Craig Roberts: (not used).
Reaction:
Ferguson: We can taste promotion.
Welsh ace Morgan makes a winning return.
Winner was Craig's most important goal.
Stockport angered as Turnbull is booked for diving.
If Green had scored we'd have won more comfortably.
My Posh Day: Ken Charlery - Posh fans were excellent . . . it brought back memories.
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