Peterborough United talking points: Highlights, lowlights, extreme reactions, an impressive cameo, laughable referees and comedy corners
These days after every result, win or lose, reactions are extreme.
I was guilty of it after the pounding Peterborough United received at Bradford City on Saturday. It was a dismal display worthy of a far bigger beating, albeit against a side who were mightily impressive.
But at times like that, and after watching Posh throw away the chance of victory at Barnsley on Tuesday night with some wasteful finishing, it’s worth remembering how far the team have travelled since manager Luke Williams shone some light on a dark three-month start to the season.
Okay being five points from a play-off position after losing more than half of your games is more a comment on the lack of quality in League One – the runaway top two aside – this season, but taken in the context of what went before it’s an achievement worthy of recognition.
Posh are now just seven points shy of last season’s final points tally of 51 with 13 matches still to go. That’s not much of a brag for a club who expect to be promotion contenders at League One level, but it is worth saying in a season relentlessly dogged by injuries and the insistence of inadequate officials to ignore blatant penalty claims.
TALKING POINTS FROM BARNSLEY 2, POSH 1…
1) In a nutshell the game was won by superior finishing. Both Barnsley goals were splendidly taken and harder to execute than the chances missed by Harry Leonard (twice) and Jimmy Jay-Morgan before half-time. Posh tried to take all three of those opportunities with first-time shots which wasn’t easy on another difficult playing surface. I had fancied Posh would create chances against a team who also play an open game on a big pitch so it has to go down as a bad defeat against a bad Barnsley defence. Don’t expect a similar contest in the next Posh away match at a Cobblers team who will drop into the League One relegation zone if Wigan Athletic beat Luton Town on Wednesday night.
2) Last night was just the second time Posh have lost after scoring first under Williams in 24 competitive matches. The other was at Lincoln.
3) The second-half was poor from Posh at the end of a gruelling eight days of three away games on heavy surfaces. Posh picked up three points which was far from a disaster ahead of matches that look very winnable. The continued absence of key players remains a problem, although laymen questioning the club’s medical staff about the number of injuries seems harsh. Even Archie Collins, who has started all 33 League One games as well as five cup matches, looked off the pace last night, but there’s no chance of getting a rest into him, not if we’re serious about winning.
4) A Posh back four containing three right-backs held up pretty well against a strong attacking team. It took those two fine strikes to defeat them as goalkeeper Alex Bass had a much quieter 90 minutes. It’s a back four worth sticking with now, especially as James Dornelly did well up against Reyes Cleary, Barnsley’s best forward. He lost the odd battle, he even lost his shirt at one point without winning a free-kick, and Reyes scored the winning goal, but most of the danger to Posh came from the other flank where Carl Johnston often had a couple of opponents to worry about.
5) One highlight from last night was another impressive cameo from 17 year-old attacking midfielder Patryk Sykut. He is always on the hunt for the ball, always looking to move it forward and he’s stronger than he looks. One Barnsley player bounced off him last night. Sykut took on three attempts at goal in his 15 minutes or so on the pitch so clearly doesn’t lack confidence.
6) The lowlights naturally included inconsistent refereeing decisions and Posh corners. If there is a set-piece plan it surely doesn’t involve shovelling the ball backwards and sideways without threatening a cross, but then the last second corner from substitute Cian Hayes perhaps gave us an answer as to why Posh never put the ball in the box. He mishit it so badly it bounced before it reached any players and went straight out of play.