Fergie frustrated by Posh failing to build on an excellent start at Lincoln City and by the performance of the referee

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson was frustrated his side didn’t capitalise on a strong start at League One leaders Lincoln City today (January 9).
Jonson Clarke-Harris celebrates the opening goal of the game for Posh at Lincoln. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Jonson Clarke-Harris celebrates the opening goal of the game for Posh at Lincoln. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Jonson Clarke-Harris celebrates the opening goal of the game for Posh at Lincoln. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Posh dominated the opening quarter of the game and took the lead through a 10th-minute own goal from TJ Eyoma, but they failed to find the second goal which might have sealed the three points.

Instead a poorly defended corner early in the second-half enabled Lincoln to equalise and the hosts then squandered a great chance to win the game from the penalty spot after Posh defender Nathan Thompson had been sent for two cautionable offences.

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There were no complaints about that red card, but referee Will Finnie angered Posh with many other decisions. Jonson Clarke-Harris was adamant Posh should have had a late in the game for handball.

“I thought we started the game really really well,” Ferguson stated. “We were in complete control and their only two opportunites in the first-half came from counter attacks.

“There was certain things we didn’t do well enough. I don’t know why it was, maybe it was the break, but when we got to 1-0 I thought we had them and we just didn’t kill them off.

“When you’re leading you need to be ruthless, but we weren’t ruthless enough today.

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“We’re playing a good team, but at 1-0 I think everyone could sense we had a right chance.

“We were happy at half time though. We had Ricky-Jade Jones ready to come and stretch the game on the counter attack, but we then conceded a bad goal from a set-piece straight away.

“That wasn’t good enough. We have to cut that sort of thing out. Them equalising so early in the second half was the turning point.

“We did well after going down to 10 men though. Our organisation was good and Ricky was a good outlet for us.

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“They had a couple of opportunities as you’d expect against 10 men. It was important we got something from the game and in the last 20 minutes we dug it out which was pleasing.

“Jonson was convinced we should have had a penalty. I didn’t get a good view of that, but I’d argue against plenty of other decisions the referee made.

“In the first-half their player (Jason Jones) fell on the ball and picked it up. It’s a clear yellow card and in the second half he did book him.

“But we will just get on with things and manage everything that comes our way. This was a good game between two good sides, but it’s a scary old world and the games come thick and fast now. but we will find a way of coping.”

The point took Posh back up to fifth and they remain nine points behind Lincoln with two matches in hand. Posh will drop to sixth if Ipswich beat Swindon in tonight’s League One match.