Marcus Maddison and Gaby Zakuani were the star performers for Peterborough United as they went down 3-2 to in-form Bury at the ABAX Stadium tonight (September 29).
But generally the Posh players were second-best against a very slick visiting side.
Ben Alnwick: Never looked entirely comfortable and played a part in some strange passing decisions in defence. Winning goal passed into the net under his body, but the ball travelled quickly to him 6
Michael Smith: One outstanding moment in the second-half should have led to Lee Angol firing Posh 3-1 ahead. Pinched the ball off excellent opponents occasionally, but largely chasing shadows 6
Callum Elder: Hardly able to get forward as Bury’s gameplan involved penning the Posh full-backs in their own half. Often left with two players to mark, but battled gamely 6
Gaby Zakuani: Two goals in a game for the first time in his career, but he was also part of a defence that struggled against quick-witted and beefy opponents 7
Ricardo Santos: Pulled all over the place defensively and he continues to mis-judge headers at an alarming rate. Gets under the ball too often when he a man of his size should be dominant in the air 5
Michael Bostwick: Looked sluggish and off the pace all night. Lost possession for the opening goal. Struggled with his passing 5
Chris Forrester: A quiet game as he found it hard to compete with the passing ability and movement of Bury’s mdfielders. Substituted for a centre-half early in the second-half as Posh tried to close the game down 5
Erhun Oztumer: A moment of madness following a poor piece of control. Posh were struggling with 11 players so to be left with 10 players by a 24th-minute red card was crucial 4
Marcus Maddison: Outstanding effort on and off the ball in the first half. Nearly scored from 45 yards. Denied possession after the break which was a shame as he was the only attacking threat 7
Lee Angol: His miss should haunt him. His attempted finish when through on goal at 2-1 was woeful. He went for a dink when he could easily have slotted it past a stranded goalkeeper. Substituted soon afterwards 5
Souleymane Coulibaly: Rarely in possession and taken off at half-time so 10-man Posh could make a tactical switch 5
Substitutes:
Jon Taylor (for Coulibaly, 46 mins): Delivered the set-piece for Zakuani’s second goal and buzzed around efficiently rather than impressively 6
Alex Davey: (for Forrester, 56 mins)
Conor Washington: (for Angol, 66 mins).
Dion-Curtis Henry: (not used).
Andrew Fox: (not used).
Harry Anderson: (not used).
Jack Collison: (not used).