A trip to Newport County on Saturday won’t get the Posh pulses racing. but there’s still a chance it could break into my list of favourite FA Cup ties involving my favourite team.
The proviso for inclusion is I must have been at the game. My 12-tie chart is in reverse order of favouritism. Let me know your favourite.
9. Aston Villa 1, Posh 3, 3rd round, 2018.
The best performance by Posh in Grant McCann’s time as manager against a side who would win the Championship title that season. Villa boss Steve Bruce did make multiple changes, but they struck early through Kienan Davis only for Posh to dominate the rest of the game, although it took them until the 76th minute to equalise through Jack Marriott. Marcus Maddison then assisted on goals for Ryan Tafazolli and Marriott. Three weeks later Posh were knocked out by Leicester at London Road (5-1!) and three weeks after that McCann was sacked. Photo: Joe Dent
10. Posh 1, Forest 0, 3rd round replay, 1976.
Posh knew they would be travelling to Old Trafford if they could overcome Brian Clough’s emerging Forest team so there was tension and stress at a packed London Road containing almost 18,000 fans. Posh had fought a valiant rearguard action to draw 0-0 at the City Ground a few days earlier, surviving some outstanding wing-play from John Robertson and Terry Curran. A Jon Nixon (pictured) strike midway through the first half won the replay, but Posh had to endure constant pressure after the goal. Goalkeeper Eric Steele was brilliant as were centre-backs Chris Turner and Jack Carmichael. The following season Forest won promotion to the First Division and a year later they had clinched the top-flight title. Photo: David Lowndes
11. Posh 2, Newcastle 4, 4th round, 2002.
A bonkers game between Barry Fry’s Posh and Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United in front of the live TV cameras. Fry was mic’d up for the game and was bizarrely awarded the man-of-the-match prize for his witty off-the-cuff comments and his touchline charges in celebration of Posh goals. Andy O’Brien and Jamie McClen gave top-flight Newcastle a 2-0 lead at the break, but an O’Brien own goal and a brilliant Dave Farrell strike – the Posh winger was caught on camera singing along to a terrace chant about himself – dragged Posh level with 20 minutes to go. Sadly a soft handball decision gave Alan Shearer the chance to blast home a penalty and Aaron Hughes added a flattering fourth. Photo: PT
12. Manchester United 3, Posh 1, 4th round, 1976.
As a 13 year-old a trip to Old Trafford was an amazing experience. I’ll never forget the roar of anticipation from a crowd of 56,000 as the teams emerged and I’ll also never forget the emotional welcome Posh boss Noel Cantwell received, back at the home of the club he’d skippered to an FA Cup Final success in 1963. United were 2-0 up in 10 minutes thanks to a big deflection of an Alex Forsyth shot and a goal for Sammy McIlroy that should have been wiped out for offside, but Posh refused to crumble and captain John Cozens, who still lives locally in Longthorpe, pulled one back before the break. A brilliant Gordon Hill volley sealed the win for Tommy Docherty’s United side, The crowd was, at the time, the third biggest to watch Posh in a competitive game. United went on to suffer a shock defeat in the final against Second Division Southampton. Photo: Lowndes