Peterborough, an away - day off - day. Rams playing as baa lambs. Turning up just isn’t enough.

You could comment on the missing Craig Bryson but if one man makes a team then surely we really are beyond redemption.

You may well ponder a central midfield pairing of Will Hughes and Jeff Hendrick as being too young, not enough experience.

You might wonder about centre forward Conor Sammon, an engine,

thunderously revving away, who seemingly lacks a gearbox to apply the thrust.

You may perhaps point the finger at a referee who awards a penalty after a mistake by Richard Keogh and sends Jake Buxton off for two yellows.

Those of a positive nature will conclude that had Theo Robinson taken his one chance rather than hitting the post then it would have been a different result.

Whilst some in the heat of the moment will berate a manager who takes off our most promising outlet, Michael Jacobs and brings on a defender when we are trailing by a goal after Buxton is sent off.

Who brings on a striker for a defender then a defender for a midfielder, confused we certainly were, so what of the players?

And we could all be right. It’s the beauty of football, different views.

What isn’t in doubt is that The Posh thoroughly deserved their 3-0 win. They worked hard, relied on “flicks and tricks” perhaps overly but meanwhile we Rams just rambled along and let them get on with it.

Micheal Bostwick volleyed spectacularly home when we failed to clear a corner on the half hour.

It stayed that way until four minutes from the end when Adam Legzdins made a uncustomary error, a simple catch inexplicably escaped into the back of the net after Saido Berahino tame shot. The same player added his second and the Posh’s third in injury time with a low shot across the keeper. In truth we were a shambles by then no formation, no clues, nothing.

And if saying there is “more fight in a bunch of conscientious objectors” is unfair then so be it. That’s the way it felt leaving London Road yesterday, the sooner we forget this one the better.

Player ratings:

Legzdins 6 - One silly mistake for the second goal but a raft of good saves.

Brayford 6 - One of our more consistent defender got forward well.

Keogh 5 - Tried to redeem his mistake by winning the ball back in the penalty area, Boyd made a meal of it somewhat but it gave the referee a easy decision to make in front of the home end.

Buxton 5 - Cautioned then challenged strongly again on Boyd who went down. Some say he got the ball, some say he followed through. The referee said “Red”.

Roberts 5 - Rusty, perhaps rushed back early.

Jacobs 7 - Ran at the opposition and created chances, good crosses in. Replaced by O’Brien when Buxton was sent off.

Hughes 6 - You can see what he has to offer but he badly needs a midfield “minder” such as Bryson. Lightweight.

Hendrick 4 - Never asserted himself on the game at all it passed him by throughout.

Coutts 6 - Looked better when he switched into centre midfield.

Sammon 5 - You can’t fault his effort, he needs however support, he didn’t get it.

Robinson 5 - The best chance of the match missed, midweek he and Sammon played as a close pair, on Saturday thirty yards apart – it didn’t work.

Subs:

O’Brien (72 for Jacobs) 5

Tyson (79 for Roberts) 5

O’Connor (84 for Hendrick) 5.

Photo: Action Images

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