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Report: Danny boy uses his head for once - Posh 2, Mansfield 1
DANNY Crow heading a winning goal has overtaken Emile Heskey playing for England as the biggest surprise on a weekend.
DANNY Crow heading a winning goal has overtaken Emile Heskey playing for England as the biggest surprise on a weekend.Using his head is not something Crow is renowned for doing – on the pitch or off it.
The 21 year-old attacking talent will never be able to forget about his role as the sulking player with a stinking attitude in the Big Ron Manager television programme, however much the producers may have manipulated the footage to suit their agenda.
And standing only a little higher than a Jack Russell means aerial successes are few and far between during football matches as well for the former Norwich City youth graduate.
But one such opportunity arrived and was gratefully gobbled up yesterday as Crow stooped to head Posh to maximum points against a plucky Mansfield side.
Substitute Crow was perfectly placed to convert Josh Low's 75th minute delivery past ancient Stags goalkeeper Carl Muggleton, just five minutes after being introduced to a chorus of boos!
The noise of discontent was probably aimed more at Ferguson's decision to withdraw Jamie Day than at Crow, but those same fans were soon hailing an inspired switch.
The match-winner himself can only recall one other headed goal which arrived against Rochdale a couple of seasons ago.
"I don't score many with my head, do I?" joked Crow. "But this one was very similar to the goal against Rochdale.
"The ball was a bit behind me and I had to turn and direct it into the net. I think it was my first touch as well which made it even better."
This match was more nouveau cuisine than a Sunday roast with all the trimmings as Posh served up the odd treat but left their fans wanting more.
The hosts went from dozing to dazzling during the opening period, but still only had one goal to show for it.Had it not been for a fine piece of Mark Tyler goalkeeping, Michael Boulding would have slotted the visitors ahead with barely 30 seconds on the clock.
Otherwise it was standard London Road fare of regular Posh attacks and rare efforts on target.
If only Aaron Mclean was a few inches taller, a flowing 22nd minute move would have ended in a picture-book goal rather than a spectacular failure after fine work from George Boyd and Day.
Soon after a Boyd piledriver stung the palms of Muggleton before Low powerfully fired Posh ahead with a close range volley after Mclean had headed a Claude Gnakpa cross back across the face of goal.
Quite how they didn't add to their lead before the break was the conundrum for the detectives in the crowd at half-time.
Day, Mclean and Boyd were waiting to pounce as Gnakpa dribbled into the box but he wildly lashed a cross-cum-shot against defender Martin McIntosh.
Then referee Carl Boyesen waved away seemingly concrete Posh appeals for a penalty after Mclean had been shoved to the ground by McIntosh.
And things became rather more pear-shaped when John McAliskey – the poor man's version of Peter Crouch in Mansfield – headed the visitors level after being left untroubled to convert a Matt Hamshaw cross.
Posh responded with a flurry of attacks (Mclean smacking the post from an impossible angle being the highlight) before having to rely on a 'lineswoman' to spare their blushes.
Female official Amy Rayner doesn't exactly have a legion of adoring fans, but she didn't do her popularity in this part of the world any harm when raising her flag at the ideal moment to rule out a second Mansfield goal.
McAliskey thought he had timed his run perfectly to latch onto a Boulding flick and prod past Tyler, but the lady of the line thought otherwise and quickly ruled the goal out.
And that was the spark that powered Posh back into attacking life with Crow's all-important contribution sandwiched in between no fewer than five fruitless Mclean attempts as his streak of scoring came to an end.
The closest Mclean came was an astute lob that Muggleton just about stretched to tip over the bar.
Charlie Lee also fluffed a great late chance but it didn't prove costly as Posh held on to record a win when not at their best.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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