TALKING POINTS: There were some excuses for Posh, but it was still a worrying display, two-goal matchwinner was Szmodics-like and is there a transfer deadline day contingency plan?

While Peterborough United have been tiring themselves out over the last few weeks, often by running up and down a ploughed field, Shrewsbury have been able to rest.

For Posh this was match number seven in 22 days. It was just Shrewsbury’s third game of 2021 so no wonder one team looked fresh and full of running and the other looked jaded with empty personal fuel guages.

Throw in the loss of two of the three most consistent Posh players this season, Frankie Kent before the game, and Jack Taylor before half-time, and the mitigation for such a lacklustre limp display looks strong.

Add Shrewsbury’s record since Steve Cotterill became manager and maybe this wasn’t that big a shock result. Since Cotterill took over the Shrews have now beaten the current top four in League One and they haven’t conceded a goal against any of them. Cotterill’s absence as he continues a tough personal battle against Covid was an extra motivation for a playing group he has transformed.

And yet this was still a troubling display from a Posh side who faild to win a single corner in the match...

TALKING POINTS

1) Once Siriki Dembele had failed to convert a difficult third minute chance, Posh ran out of ideas going forward, They were too easy to stifle. Shrewsbury’s wing-backs blocked the forward progress of Posh wingbacks Joe Ward and Dan Butler, forcing the visitors to play narrow through a congested middle without the quick feet of Reece Brown who was sat on the bench until Taylor departed. That and Jonson Clarke-Harris’s inability to hold the ball up meant Dembele and Sammie Szmodics were out of the game for long periods. Shrewsbury are well drilled and tough to get around, but that’s three matches in eight days with just an own goal to show from them.

2) Two-goal Harry Chapman, a man borrowed from Blackburn Rovers, looked terrific. Quick, positive and shot well with either foot. Loan signings who haven’t played much this season will be a bonus against sides who have faced a hectic schedule. Last season Posh pepped an ailing side up dramatically by introducing Reece Brown and Szmodics from Championship reserve teams. Indeed watching Chapman burst past players into dangerous areas before firing off well-struck shots reminded me of the 2019-20 version of Szmodics

3) If Taylor’s injury is worse than initially thought I hope Posh have a transfer deadline day contingency plan. A top six finish would be most unlikely without him. Brown hasn’t matched last season’s form on a consistent basis, Hamilton’s main strength of running hard seem at odds with Ferguson’s preferred playbook and Louis Reed seems to have disappeared, maybe forever after tomorrow’s transfer deadline day.

4) Posh didn’t play a lot worse yesterday than they did at Ipswich last week, but because the result at Portman Road went their way the club’s fans were quite jovial on social media compared to the Twitter drubbing they dished out to the players last night. Ferguson advises his players not to get too high after a win or too low after a defeat. That advice works for fans also.

5) It is frustrating though to follow up wins against big clubs who should challenge for promotion like Charlton and Ipswich by failing to beat two clubs who have been near the bottom of the table for most of the season like Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury. This is the most unpredictable season in recent memory.

6) Ferguson’s mind re selection for Tuesday’s Papa John’s Trophy tie at Tranmere will probably have been made up by the lacklustre display at the Montgomery Waters Meadow. Mass changes it will surely be even with Posh just two wins from Wembley and with League Two opposition first up.

Today’s display should also serve as motivation for the likes of Mo Eisa, Ryan Broom (not even in the matchday squad yesterday), Ricky-Jade Jones and Idris Kanu. Play well and a place against Crewe next Saturday could open up. It’s not as through the front three are on fire currently. Certainly Clarke-Harris looks as though he needs more than one game off. It’s hard work bashing against three centre-backs every game.

7) There was a big win for Doncaster at promotion rivals Lincoln City yesterday. At 8-1 they are the best value to win the title. They’ve jumped above Posh in the Sky Bet title favourites list as well as the League One table. Rovers are two points ahead of Posh, (who are now 10/1 to finish top) and have two games in hand.