Report: Posh 2 Dale 1
Sunday, 12th Dec 2010 18:34 by Chaff

After not originally being down to go to the game, I got to about Monday of last week and I thought, sod it, I've nowt better to do so arranged a lift down to Peterborough.

We were obviously going in as second favourites to win but, for some reason, I went into the game very confident of coming away from London Road with at least a point to put in the boot of TVOS' car.

With Josh Lillis out injured and back at Scunthorpe and back up keeper Matty Edwards struggling with a finger injury as well, our new emergency loanee Luke Daniels made his Dale debut in net. Our song for him reminded everyone of how he kept bury in the League formerly known as the Rochdale Division! The back four lined up with Wiseman, Holness, Dawson and TK. In midfield were Adams, Jones, JK and only a third start this season for the impressive Matty Done. O'Grady and Grant were up front.

Dale actually started off really brightly and managed to push forward and they even created a good early chance when Grant released Adams who's effort was very well saved by Lewis in the Posh goal. Matty Done was causing a few early problems as well for the home side but nothing came of his efforts.

After that initial 15 minute spell, Peterborough realised that they were playing a football game and not watching Corrie Street and they got into the game and started playing. Lee Tomlin created a cracking chance for himself with a shot that he hit wide and George Boyd had a good chance which he blasted wide also.

It looked like they were going to score every time they came forward at our defence and that was mainly in part to our midfield not being strong enough to compete. That's not fair on Gary Jones though who was doing the job of two men with JK not imposing himself on the game whatsoever, highlighting our desperate need for a combative midfielder.

My fears were proven right on 20 minutes when Aaron McLean had a snap first time shot from the edge of the box which left Daniels with no chance at the near post as the ball flew threw a sea of legs. 1-0 Posh and the travelling Dale fans must have been hoping that this wouldn't turn into a cricket score.

Jones had a had chance with a long range effort which Lewis saved comfortably.

A fantastic bit of link up play between McLean and the quite magnificent Lee Tomlin saw the latter blast a shot just wide of the post. The home side were playing some really good football and you could see the difference in class between the two teams unfortunately.

Nicky Adams should have done better when Jones put him through one on one with Lewis but the keeper and right back Mark Little did really well to stop Adams from prodding the ball past them.

George Boyd had a glorious chance to score and really should have put the game beyond Dale but his turn and shot from the edge of the area clipped the outside of the post and went wide. Another big let off for Dale.

The onslaught continued as Zakuani had a header very well saved by Daniels from a Tomlin cross. Daniels also had to keep out a good effort from Mackail-Smith just before the half time whistle blew.

The game took a break and with Posh 1-0 up, Dale were going to have to be superb in the second half to get anything from the game.

With just four minutes gone of the second half and Posh were 2-0 up. The goal started when Jason Kennedy needlessly lost the ball in midfield. The ball came down the left side to Boyd who squeezed the ball across to Craig Mackail-Smith who finished past Daniels to double their lead.

That was it as far as I was concerned and I shouted over to TVOS' "Start the car!"

That goal forced Hillcroft into some changes to try and recover something from the game and predictably, Nicky Adams made way for Jean Louis Akpa Akpro and Bobby Grant was replaced by Anthony Elding. Neither Adams or Grant had had good games.

With the hour mark approaching, Dale got into the game more in the search for goals and one nearly came via a long range Gary Jones shot.

Lee Tomlin fired in a shot that was very well saved by Daniels just to remind us of the threat that Posh carried every time they broke.

Dale were getting back into it and looking to get forward more but it was a lack of confidence in front of goal perhaps that was hindering the visitors with Done getting tackled before looking to get a shot away having done really well down the right. That caused a problem in itself though. Done was on the right and JLAA was on the left which meant that both were having to cut inside onto their preferred foot which was preventing us from getting to the by-line to cross and it also gave time to Posh to get a foot in when we looked to shoot, as Done found out a couple of times.

He did get one shot away though in exactly the same style of attack as he cut inside and shot at the near post but his effort hit the post and went wide.

Back down the other end and a 25 yard free kick was inches away from flying into the top corner courtesy of Grant McCann's David Beckham impression.

JLAA nearly got a shot on target after some good work by Elding but a stunning tackle by Zakuani put an end to the attack but not long after and the aforementioned JLAA made the score 2-1 when he was sent through. His initial control could well have been with his arm but the referee played on and he went through to finish past Lewis for his second goal of the season. Dale most certainly back in with a shout with just over 10 minutes left.

It would have been an injustice of epic proportions given the obvious difference in quality between the sides but we nearly nicked a point and really should have when JK went clean through and took FOREVER to get a shot away but when he did, rather than find the net which he certainly should have done, he found the outstretched foot of Zakuani whose tackle saved a certain goal. That said, JK should have got a shot away much earlier!

The game finished 2-1 to Peterborough.

I don't know about everyone else, but I learned that the gap between the likes of Posh and us is massive. If they don't go up automatically then it will be a travesty in my view. I was extremely impressed with them and in particular, Zakuani and Tomlin who were sensational.

The need for a tough tackling midfielder who can stop other midfields just waltzing through at will, is blindingly obvious to me. We're shipping in too many goals and they all seem to be coming from our inability to stop attacks in midfield. Barry-Murphy isn't the answer, neither is JK who's been poor for a good few weeks. Jones is playing on his own at the moment and needs some help because without him, God only knows where we'd be this season. Bottom no doubt. So if I was Mr Hill, I'd be telling Santa Claus how good I've been this year and asking him nicely for a good midfielder and while he's at it, a goal scorer in the January sales.

Our run rate is slipping and we need to pick up a few boundaries now. The Christmas and New Year fixtures are vital to our survival bid.

Ratings: (* - Man of the match)

Daniels - 7 - Can't kick but pulled off some excellent saves

Wiseman - 6 - Didn't get forward anywhere near as often as we're used to

T Kennedy - 5 - Poor, gave the ball away far too often

Holness - 6 - Solid in defence but really can't pass

Dawson - 7 - Watching him, you can tell he's a higher level player. Never caught out and looked impressive for us.

Adams - 5 - Had a couple of decent chances but don't remember him beating his man once

*Done - 7 - The only one of our wide men who looked dangerous and he very nearly scored

J Kennedy - 4 - Worst player on the pitch unfortunately. Lost possession for their goal, should have scored an equaliser but didn't get a shot away and left Jones doing all the donkey work in midfield

Jones - 7 - Worked tirelessly, got forward as much as possible and played well with no help at all from JK

Grant - 5 - Offered very little unfortunately

O'Grady - 6 - Held the ball up slightly better but he's struggling without a good striker next to him and is losing the ball more than we've ever seen from him

Subs:

Akpa-Akpro - 7 - Caused problems, got our goal and could have half another

Elding - 6 - Added something different to the forward line and we looked better with him on the pitch.

Photo: Action Images

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