TALKING POINTS: Posh are in a great place at halfway, feast or famine from the forwards, excellence from the returning old boys, brave selections could be required

We think it's Sammie Szmodics behind the ball during the 0-0 draw between Posh and Bristol Rovers. Photo: David Lowndes.

Posh have seven more points after 23 games this season then they had at this stage last season. They are also three places higher with a game in hand which could take them to second.

Given the loss of League One’s best player in the summer that’s a decent effort by Darren Ferguson and his side and it shouldn’t be overlooked because of one disappointing and frustrating night on the ploughed field that’s replaced the football pitch at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Given the conditions Posh and Bristol Rovers served up an exciting end-to-end contest that deserved goals, yet didn’t get any, but as Ferguson likes to point out if you can’t win, make sure you don’t lose and it’s another unbeaten game completed with no dent to confidence and morale.

Posh midfielder Reece Brown battles for possession during the 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers. Photo: David Lowndes.

The commitment of both sides last night was excellent and on another night, with shots travelling towards the corner of the goal rather than down the middle, Posh would have won comfortably. It certainly wasn’t a performance to set off any concerns about the second-half of the season.

TALKING POINTS...

1) It’s been feast or famine for Posh in the last two games. From no shots on target, and still managing to win, at Ipswich on Saturday, to 12 shots on target, all of them repelled by former Posh ‘keeper Joe Day. When Posh hit shots with power (EG Sammie Szmodics in the first-half and Harrison Burrows late on) they ended up in the centre of the goal, while the better placed shots (EG Dan Butler before the break and Jonson Clarke-Harris towards the end) didn’t carry enough weight to defeat Day. And when Dembele skipped around Day he couldn’t find the power, or enough purchase on a slippery surface, to beat Rovers defender Alfie Kilgour on the line. As Ferguson said, it was just one of those nights for his team.

2) Credit to Rovers who ignored their poor current form (five successive defeats in all competitions) to play positively at all times. Sure, they were often pushed back, but their attacking intent was obvious. There was no attempt to shut up shop at a venue that normally sees home victories. Rovers were helped by having ex-Posh favourite Erhun Oztumer and highly-rated Sam Nicholson back in the side and they almost combined to score a brilliant goal. Nicholson’s first-time volley from Oztumer’s delightful pass struck the outside of a post 10 minutes before the break.

Posh wing-back Idris Kanu is fouled by a Bristol Rovers defender. Photo: David Lowndes.

3) All three of Rovers’ returning Posh players performed very well. Oztumer was classy and inventive, Day was rock-solid in goal and Jack Baldwin was outstanding at the back with no sign of the errors that blighted the latter part of his London Road career. In contrast former Rovers’ player Jonson Clarke-Harris struggled to make an impact for Posh.

4) This was the first 0-0 draw for Posh in over 12 months, since Gillingham were in town last January. It might not be the last this season though if the Weston Homes Stadium playing surface doesn’t improve. There will be plenty of tired legs playing on this pitch and the ball travels so slowly across the mud it favours defences. Posh are not alone in having a pitch problem this season, There were grumbles at the games at Wigan and MK Dons last night.

5) Lincoln moved back to the top of League One with an excellent win at Portsmouth who have now lost back-to-back big games against promotion rivals. Hull were well beaten at Accrington just a fortnight after beating them easily at home, while Sunderland, Doncaster and Charlton all made up ground on Posh by winning. And keep an eye on Oxford United who are steaming up the table. There will be twists and turns aplenty and many shock results to come this season purely because there are so many games taking place so regularly.

6) It will be interesting to see which promotion-chasing managers feel able to change their side often enough to combat fatigue. Ferguson has kept the changes to his starting line-up to a minimum since Posh returned to action at the start of January. Ryan Broom and Mo Eisa are senior players who are not currently getting off the bench. One surprise last night was the failure to send on speedy substitute Ricky-Jade Jones against a defence who must have tired during a late Posh onslaught.