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Posh 3, Fulham 3 - Boyd double completes comeback
Peterborough United gave themselves a much-needed confidence boost with a thrilling second-half fightback against Fulham.
Peterborough United gave themselves a much-needed confidence boost with a thrilling second-half fightback against Fulham.After two successive defeats against Premier League opponents, Darren Ferguson's side finally found their feet at London Road on Saturday after what has up to now been a far from auspicious pre-season campaign.
Heavy losses against Aston Villa and Spurs in the past week meant a positive result against the Cottagers was high on the manager's wish list as he looks to steel his side for the challenges which await them in the Championship.
And despite struggling again at times to match the pace and technical ability of top-flight opponents, Posh recovered sufficient composure after going three goals down to get the job done.
First-half Fulham goals came from Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora (2) but a revitalised Posh stole the second-half honours thanks to strikes by Aaron Mclean and a double from the impressive George Boyd.
And while Fulham boss Roy Hodgson may have been somewhat begrudging in his praise of Posh after watching them turn the tables on his side, Fergie took an altogether more balanced view of the afternoon's proceedings.
"Roy may feel that they let us back into it after they went three goals up and we were pretty awful in the first half," he said.
"But to be fair to us all Joe Lewis had to do was pick the ball out of the net and we made a couple of mistakes which led to their goals
"We were a bit lethargic and it looked like a few of them were feeling a bit sorry for themselves. I let the players know that at half-time and we got the response we were looking for.
"George Boyd came on and made a difference with his quality. He gave us a lot more threat when we needed it and he took his goals well.
"It was an important result for us confidence-wise as we have just come off the back of two heavy defeats against top-flight teams.
"But the result is not the main thing with these games and I am pleased overall with where we are with the season approaching. Our fitness is pretty good and I am happy that they will be ready and up for it by the time the season starts."
Ferguson would not have been happy with his side's first-half display however.
After a bright start which saw efforts from Shaun Batt and Charlie Lee whistle wide, Fulham decided to flex their own muscles with a move which very nearly led to the opener.
Zoltan Gera's excellent through ball looked destined to be met by Hull target Zamora and Lewis had to react smartly to dash off his line and head away the danger.
But it was only a temporary reprieve as minutes later the visitors did take the lead after Dempsey exchanged passes with Dickson Etuhu on the edge of the area before sending a vicious drive into the back of the net. Continues on next page
Posh's attempts to recover from the setback saw man-of-the-match Lee send Mclean on his way but a stumble robbed him of a shooting chance before Batt's shot was deflected for a corner minutes later.
Sadly the home side were not alert enough when the resulting kick spun clear of their area to the feet of Erik Nevland out on the Fulham left.
The Norwegian had plenty of time to saunter down the wing before centering for an unmarked Zamora to rattle home his side's second.
And just before the end of the half Zamora – who it was revealed after the game has rejected a 5 million move to Hull – latched onto a sumptious through ball from Danny Murphy to put his side 3-0 up and seemingly out of sight.
But Posh had other ideas after the re-start and when Mclean broke free following a lightning counter raid involving Lee Frecklington through the middle, he made no mistake after rounding Fulham's second-half substitute keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler to fire into an empty net on 55 minutes.
And when Boyd was introduced 10 minutes later for the largely anonymous Ben Wright, a comeback always looked on the cards.
With new boy Kystian Pearce looking more settled alongside Gaby Zakuani at the back, Posh looked to take the game to Fulham and with Paul Coutts now on to add more depth to the midfield, chances began to arrive more regularly.
After a vicious Tommy Williams volley was almost tucked in by the energetic Batt, the increasing pressure from the home side was rewarded with another goal.
With just six minutes left on the clock Zakuani rose well to knock down for Boyd who scored Posh's second following a scramble at the back post.
The comeback was complete just three minutes from time when Boyd traded passes with Mclean on the edge of the area before being felled by Chris Smalling inside the box for a penalty and he picked himself up to convert confidently.
See also: Boyd's goal is the top flight
Match facts:
POSH 3
FULHAM 3
Goals: Posh - Mclean (55 mins), Boyd (84 mins),
Boyd (87 mins, pen).
Fulham - Dempsey (21 mins), Zamora (34 mins),
Zamora (44 mins).
Attendance: 1,738.
Referee: K. Wright.
Teams
Posh: Lewis (McKeown 45), Martin (Coutts 70),
Williams, Zakuani, Pearce, Lee, Batt, Freckling-
ton (Crook 82), Mclean, Green, Wright (Boyd 65).
Unused subs: Diagouraga, Gaughran, Rowe.
Fulham: Stockdale (Zuberbuhler 45), Konch-
esky, Pantsil, Hangeland (Smalling 77), Nevland,
Gera, Murphy (Harris 75) , Hughes (Kelly 77),
Etuhu (Baird 65), Dempsey (Ki-Hyeon 65),
Zamora (Johnson 75.)
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Weather for Peterborough
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Wind direction: North west
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