The highs and lows of Peterborough United old boys and goalkeeper leaves London Road
Peterborough United have started to cut their squad size.
It’s widely accepted that a first-team squad of over 30 players is too big and drastic actions needs to be taken, especially if January transfer window signings are also to be made.
And Posh have made a small start by sending goalkeeper Bastian Smith on loan to Southern Premier League South side Wimborne Town. He made his debut in a 4-0 defeat at Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.
Posh still have four goalkeepers on their books. First choice Alex Bass and back-up Vicente Retes, who is on loan from Norwich City, as well as transfer-listed pair Nick Bilokapic and Will Blackmore. Smith (20), who moved to Posh from Portsmouth, was on the first-team subs bench at times earlier this season, but has yet to make a senior appearance.
Posh old boy were prominent yesterday, but not all in a good way. Ephron Mason-Clark’s terrific header earned Championship leaders Coventry City a 1-1 draw at Southampton and Joe Ward’s excellent run of form for Derby County continued with an assist in a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth at Pride Park.
But Grant McCann’s Doncaster Rovers are now next-to-bottom in League One after a 5-1 home tonking at the hands of Plymouth Argyle. Rovers have won just one of their last 14 League One matches, 2-1 at home to Posh last month.
"As a team we're wide open right now,” McCann admitted to the Doncaster Free Press. “We're too easy to score against, too easy to play against and we need to find a way to be better.
"I need to reflect on what am I doing wrong. I think we've done a lot right since we've been here. But at this moment in time, it's wrong, because we shouldn't be conceding 11 goals in three games. It's just not acceptable."
Former Posh boss Steve Evans started life as manager of League Two strugglers Bristol Rovers with a 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra. The Rovers goal was scored by one-time Posh loanee Callum Morton.