'I want my team back' Peterborough United boss hits out at his side over their unrecognisably poor recent performances
Peterborough United boss Luke Williams hit out at his side’s latest poor showing after they were beaten 3-1 at home by soon-to-be relegated Port Vale.
The Valiants are on the brink of the drop and their relegation from League One is only a matter of time but Jon Brady’s side had too much for Posh thanks to an Onel Hernandez strike and two stunning free-kicks from Ethon Archer. James Dornelly’s goal from Matt Garbett’s corner was not enough to spark a Posh comeback.
In a damning post-match interview, Luke Williams called out his side for their poor performance and insisted that he simply did not know where the group he recognised from early in his tenure had gone.
He criticised his side for looking toothless from open play and for needlessly committing fouls for the free-kicks which were expertly scored by Archer.
Posh haven’t move from 16th with defeat but have lost a game in hand to the teams around them. They are currently four points above Exeter in 21st having played one game less. The Grecians have the chance to put pressure on Posh and cut that gap to just one on Saturday when they host Stockport County.
Speaking about the defeat against Port Vale, Williams said: “I have no idea where my team has gone. I’m not sure what’s so horrible about playing football and so demanding that it's become a chore. I don’t understand why. I miss my team and want them back.
“What I have seen recently is not my team. I have previously seen a team on the pitch really fighting for everything and be prepared to leave everything out there and walk off the pitch exhausted and win. I miss that group. I can’t seem to have that connection with them. For one reason or another, the players are not able to find their top level and their quality. They were a brilliant group and I’d love to see them back to their best.
“That was as disappointing as I have ever seen. It’s so easy to score the first goal against us. Tom Lees wins the header from the goal kick and then everyone drops off and we’re on the six-yard line when they pass the ball across the six-yard box and its stroked into the corner. It’s hard to accept.
“The free-kicks are great strikes but needless fouls to give them away. The overall performance lacked conviction.
“We had no anticipation going forward, we don’t look like we believed we could score from open play.
“You can imagine all of the team talk and the training this week. We said that we had to concentrate and make sure we don’t allow the ball to go through so many bodies; not allow someone so much time and space to shoot and we did exactly that again. It’s disappointing.
“If you give a team a goal lead because there is no aggression and no desire to keep the ball out of the back of the net then its up to them if they want to sit off and I’m sure they back themselves to defend our actions. The way to stop that happening is to stop conceding cheap goals.
“It was a brilliant finish for our goal. There wasn’t so much wrong with the flow of the game. We had a lot of territory and got to their box fairly comfortably but we had no conviction and had to rely on a set-piece to score.
“We can’t score from open play, we had 70% possession and god knows how many box entries but it was not enough.
“I try many things to this it around and I try to remind them of some of the performances they have put in, particularly at home. I need to try to show them the difference in some of the actions they’ve made before, their body language, the energy they have put in and maybe try to show them the difference from what we’re producing now and see if we can reignite that energy.”
Posh will have to play after the rest of League One on Sunday (April 19) when they host Burton Albion. The two sides are currently level on points with Posh having the advantage due to goal difference.