fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
Great day. Had a pre game lunch in The Bell at Stilton, about 6 miles from the ground. A superb stilton ploughmans - as you might expect - and that got the afternoon off to a fantastic start.
A good opening 20 mins from us, should have (some of you please take note) been more than 1-0 up. However, then I felt we were a bit "under the posh" (see what I did there?) for the rest of the half and a tad fortunate to be level. I didn't notice the offside for their first disallowed effort so it was either a bloomin' good call or he was wrong.
What we were concerned about was the fact that we were playing a reasonably high line and when you have naff all pace at the back that leaves you open to the ball inside the full backs or over the top, which Peterborough played time and time again. We wondered how we could combat that and the only thing we could think of was to play a touch deeper.
We didn't seem to learn from that however and the second half started more or less the same, and it was from such a pass that led John White to suffer the injury. In the time he was being treated, SCP was really giving Ferdinand a talking to and boy, did that work. I've never seen Ferdinand look so focused. He actually looked like a top level player out there with his commitment, one superb tackle in the box, numerous headers and an absolutely solid partnership with Turner. This is his favoured position - alongside the big man - and from that moment we more or less snuffed their threat out. I think their best effort came from Cox and I have no idea what he was trying to do. Possibly hammer it against the player to make it cannon off him? Either way it could have been one that graced football blooper DVD's for years to come.
We did have to defend like crazy as their had so many corners and balls into the box, and I have no idea if the second disallowed goal was on or offside, but I'll take the decisions and maybe this is just the little bit of luck we need.
We were all saying on the way back that it feels like the season has just begun again and the level of excitement and enthusiasm is incredible.
I'm not going to say too much about the ref - I think he was poor for both teams but he gave us a penalty and ignored two late pleas from them. A month ago they may well have gone against us.
Final note - the fans. We were absolutely the 12th man today. Best away performance from us for years (I know I only go to 2 or 3 a season, but hey.)
Ratings
Oxley - 8 - Two great saves that kept us in it.
Demetriou - 8 - Solid, match winning and calm penalty
Coker - 8 - Loved seeing him keep playing the ball down the line instead of always stopping and going inside, it helps us get the ball into the danger areas so much faster
Turner - 7 - Aerially dominant, not sure about him with the ball on the deck
White - 8 - Was great up to the injury, I hope it's not a break or too serious as at his age that could be career ending
Kightly - 7 - Not quite as good as last week but still vastly improved on earlier in the season
McLaughlin - 7 - Won the penalty, nearly added a second that went just past
Timlin - 9 - MOM - Best game of the season and dominated in midfield
Yearwood - 8 - Fed off Tims and had a cracker. I feared for him however at the booking. Received praise from the BBC Cambridge reporter who said he was lucky to stay on the pitch but looked a real prospect
Cox - 8 - Worked so hard but wtf was that shot at our goal all about?
Fortune - 6 - The only player in my opinion who didn't perform beyond the average.
Subs -
Ferdinand - 8 - Welcome back Anton, all is forgiven
Ladapo - 7 - Got a rude awakening with a couple of solid challenges but stood up and battled back. Not a bad start.
A good opening 20 mins from us, should have (some of you please take note) been more than 1-0 up. However, then I felt we were a bit "under the posh" (see what I did there?) for the rest of the half and a tad fortunate to be level. I didn't notice the offside for their first disallowed effort so it was either a bloomin' good call or he was wrong.
What we were concerned about was the fact that we were playing a reasonably high line and when you have naff all pace at the back that leaves you open to the ball inside the full backs or over the top, which Peterborough played time and time again. We wondered how we could combat that and the only thing we could think of was to play a touch deeper.
We didn't seem to learn from that however and the second half started more or less the same, and it was from such a pass that led John White to suffer the injury. In the time he was being treated, SCP was really giving Ferdinand a talking to and boy, did that work. I've never seen Ferdinand look so focused. He actually looked like a top level player out there with his commitment, one superb tackle in the box, numerous headers and an absolutely solid partnership with Turner. This is his favoured position - alongside the big man - and from that moment we more or less snuffed their threat out. I think their best effort came from Cox and I have no idea what he was trying to do. Possibly hammer it against the player to make it cannon off him? Either way it could have been one that graced football blooper DVD's for years to come.
We did have to defend like crazy as their had so many corners and balls into the box, and I have no idea if the second disallowed goal was on or offside, but I'll take the decisions and maybe this is just the little bit of luck we need.
We were all saying on the way back that it feels like the season has just begun again and the level of excitement and enthusiasm is incredible.
I'm not going to say too much about the ref - I think he was poor for both teams but he gave us a penalty and ignored two late pleas from them. A month ago they may well have gone against us.
Final note - the fans. We were absolutely the 12th man today. Best away performance from us for years (I know I only go to 2 or 3 a season, but hey.)
Ratings
Oxley - 8 - Two great saves that kept us in it.
Demetriou - 8 - Solid, match winning and calm penalty
Coker - 8 - Loved seeing him keep playing the ball down the line instead of always stopping and going inside, it helps us get the ball into the danger areas so much faster
Turner - 7 - Aerially dominant, not sure about him with the ball on the deck
White - 8 - Was great up to the injury, I hope it's not a break or too serious as at his age that could be career ending
Kightly - 7 - Not quite as good as last week but still vastly improved on earlier in the season
McLaughlin - 7 - Won the penalty, nearly added a second that went just past
Timlin - 9 - MOM - Best game of the season and dominated in midfield
Yearwood - 8 - Fed off Tims and had a cracker. I feared for him however at the booking. Received praise from the BBC Cambridge reporter who said he was lucky to stay on the pitch but looked a real prospect
Cox - 8 - Worked so hard but wtf was that shot at our goal all about?
Fortune - 6 - The only player in my opinion who didn't perform beyond the average.
Subs -
Ferdinand - 8 - Welcome back Anton, all is forgiven
Ladapo - 7 - Got a rude awakening with a couple of solid challenges but stood up and battled back. Not a bad start.
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