Peterborough United’s performance would have thrilled Tommy Robson the winger, not that beating Northampton Town is anything to get too excited about these days

Peterborough United’s performance to seal a sixth straight Football League derby day win over Northampton Town yesterday (October 10) would have thrilled Tommy Robson.
Posh players observe a minute's silence for Tommy Robson before the match at Northampton Town. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Posh players observe a minute's silence for Tommy Robson before the match at Northampton Town. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Posh players observe a minute's silence for Tommy Robson before the match at Northampton Town. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Robson was eternally grateful to the Cobblers (and he would have been delighted by his tribute organised at Sixfields before this game) for starting his professional career in the early sixties, but a 13-year attachment encompassing over 550 first-team games meant it was Posh first and the rest nowhere in the great man’s heart.

And the fact that the Posh win included some dazzling wingplay from Siriki Dembele, Joe Ward and even full-back Nathan Thompson would have made Robson’s permanent smile grow to Cheshire Cat levels. Robson’s passing 48 hours before kick off was a horribly sad event, but if he could have picked a result to ease the pain, he’d probably have gone for beating Northampton in what might become ‘the Tommy Robson derby’ in future.

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Not that nailing the Cobblers is any great achievement/surprise these days. Alongside Rafa Nadal winning the French Open and Manchester United winning penalties, Posh beating their oldest rivals is currently the nearest thing to a sporting certainty.

Reece Brown scores his goal against Northampton Town to make it 2-0 to Posh. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Reece Brown scores his goal against Northampton Town to make it 2-0 to Posh. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Reece Brown scores his goal against Northampton Town to make it 2-0 to Posh. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

It’s six in a row in league matches now and Dembele was just five years old when Posh last lost at Sixfields.

Dembele was mesmerising yesterday. Deployed alongside Sammie Szmodics and Joe Ward behind Jonson Clarke-Harris he ran riot in a first-half which eventually exposed the gulf between two sides who look set to be battling at opposite ends of the League One table.

If Posh had been sharper and more precise with their passing they could well have determined the destination of the points before the break.

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Tactically manager Darren Ferguson was spot on. He stayed with four at the back, employed the more physical presence of Ethan Hamilton in the centre of midfield to help secure possession against rugged opponents and watched Reece Brown and Dembele pick holes in the left side of the Cobblers backline.

Reece Brown's shot nestles in the corner of the Northampton net. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Reece Brown's shot nestles in the corner of the Northampton net. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Reece Brown's shot nestles in the corner of the Northampton net. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Ward’s errant cross ruined one early move as did Thompson’s sidefoot shot that was easily saved, but the right-back made amends just past the hour mark with a clinical finish after Dembele’s superb through ball.

Dembele and Jonson Clarke-Harris were denied by home ‘keeper Steve Arnold either side of the goal after shots from distance, although the most important save of the day was delivered by Posh number one Christy Pym who followed a routine stop of Danny Rose’s piledriver with a terrific reaction stop to thwart Will Hoskins from close range. Five minutes later Posh had taken the lead and could look forward to catching Cobblers on the break in space that might have been closed off if the hosts had a lead to defend.

It didn’t quite work like that as the second-half was scrappy with little goalmouth incident until Dembele’s excellence teed up Ward for a strike that was well saved.

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Ward then combined with substitute Ryan Broom to set up Brown for a well-taken first Posh goal from the edge of the area.

Jonson Clarke-Harris of Peterborough United battles with Fraser Horsfall of Northampton Town. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Jonson Clarke-Harris of Peterborough United battles with Fraser Horsfall of Northampton Town. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Jonson Clarke-Harris of Peterborough United battles with Fraser Horsfall of Northampton Town. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Overall it was far from perfect, but there are signs that Posh are approaching top form notwithstanding the fact they faced limited opponents jere with very little goal threat following the departure of the two attacking players who fired them through the League Two play-offs last season.

The thought of Jack Taylor and Brown linking up in the centre of midfield again from next weekend is an appetising one, while a fully-fit Thompson is a huge upgrade on last season. Pym’s form compared to the start of the 2019-20 campaign is also a bonus, while Clarke-Harris showed he will be an important foil for the other forwards as well as a regular goalscorer.

Indeed Ferguson’s only squad concern might be the lack of a like-for-like replacement for Clarke-Harris. If he’s not available, this 4-2-3-1 formation would have to be tweaked.