POSH PLAYER VERDICTS: The vast majority of Peterborough United's players were well below average again

For the second Saturday in a row, Peterborough United's players were well below average.
Jordan Nicholson of Peterborough United in action with Mahlon Romeo of Millwall. Picture: Joe DentJordan Nicholson of Peterborough United in action with Mahlon Romeo of Millwall. Picture: Joe Dent
Jordan Nicholson of Peterborough United in action with Mahlon Romeo of Millwall. Picture: Joe Dent

Today’s (February 20) starting line-up for a League One fixture at Millwall featured six changes, but the result was again poor as the Lions roared to an easy 3-0 win.

There wasn’t a single Posh player who will be overly happy with their performance.

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Marking key (out of 10): 10: Perfection, 9: Outstanding, 8=Very good, 7=Good, 6=Average, 5=Poor 4=Stinker.

Ricardo Santos in action for Posh at Millwall. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Ricardo Santos in action for Posh at Millwall. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Ricardo Santos in action for Posh at Millwall. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Ben Alnwick: Very unlucky with the first Millwall goal as he made a terrific save in the build-up, but Posh were woefully dis-organised at set-pieces much to the captain’s anger. Arguing with team-mates is never a good look 5

Michael Smith: Plays with a lot of energy and spirit, He’s a willing runner, but his passing and crossing were off-key for 90 minutes. His partnership with Santos on the right side of the defence never threatens security. He was the nearest defender in the vicinity when all three Millwall goals were scored 4

Harry Toffolo: A couple of decent runs in the opening moments, but he made several other forward forays that went unnoticed by team-mates. Took a knock towards the end of the first-half and didn’t re-appear for the second half because of injury 5

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Ricardo Santos: His lack of pace was exposed as was his lack of aerial ability and positional sense. He tries hard, but it’s a real struggle for him. Gets caught in possession far too often for the good of the team 4

Ricardo Santos in action for Posh at Millwall. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Ricardo Santos in action for Posh at Millwall. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Ricardo Santos in action for Posh at Millwall. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Michael Bostwick: Looked slow from the start. Couldn’t track the runs of the Millwall strikers effectively, regularly beaten in the air and took a pointless last-minute caution that will now see him miss the next two matches. Surprisingly poor 4

Chris Forrester: The one bright spark, but for all his clever, accurate passing, his role doesn’t allow him to influence things in the opposition third of the pitch. Took a big knock at the end of the game and limped off 6

Harry Beautyman: An industrious hour until the need for, allegedly, more creative players became obvious 5

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Jon Taylor: A better attitude than most, but ran down numerous blind alleys. Delivered some accurate set-pieces that no Posh player threatened to take advantage of 5

Erhun Oztumer: Taken off after 45 ineffective minutes, not helped by the lack of movement ahead of him 5

Martin Samuelsen: A fish out of water playing too far forward in the first-half. Played deeper after the break, but Millwall were too fast and too physical for him 4

Souleymane Coulibaly: Big ask for a striker who hasn’t scored since November 14 to lead the forward line alone in the first-half. He puts a shift in, but he is a wayward performer. Very erratic and no confidence in his finishing as a result 4

Substitutes:

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Shaquile Coulthirst: (for Samuelsen, 46 mins). Lucky not to be sent off within minutes of his arrival as a half-time substitute. No other impact on the game 4

Jordan Nicholson: (for Oztumer, 46 mins). A tough baptism for a young debutant and not surprisingly he looked over-awed 4

Marcus Maddison: (for Beautyman, 57 mins). Seems strange that he can’t get a start in a side now very short of goals. He might just produce something out of the ordinary - others most definitely will not 5

Jack Baldwin: (not used).

Tom Nichols: (not used).

Gaby Zakuani: (not used).

Dion-Curtis Henry: (not used).