Just got back home after a roller-coaster of a day. Up at 0600 and took my dog for a 5 mile walk, then breakfast for poshpete and I before heading for the Station and catch the 0832 train to Kings Cross. We left early because we wanted to spend some time relaxing in London before the match (so did half of Peterborough, judging by the number of Posh fans also waiting for the train). We had intended to spend a couple of hours visiting the Imperial War Museum - the first bad omen, it was closed for 6 months for refurbishment. Feeling in need of some refreshment we walked the short distance to the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre. After working in Peterborough's Queensgate Shopping Centre for 26 years I had visions of a high class emporium befitting the Country's capital. What a run-down, dirty, badly maintained dump it turned out to be, entrances hidden behind tatty market stalls and the 'Malls' lined with uninviting, down-market shops. However, at least the privately owned little coffee shop served decent drink and food, a lot cheaper than Starbuck's dross. We arrived at Selhurst Park an hour before kick-off and made our way to our seats to watch the Posh boys warming up and savour the atmosphere. I thought the Main Stand at London Road was bad, this was far worse. Ancient, worn wooden seats and a restricted view due to the large uprights. The state of the seats quickly became a moot point once the match commenced, no-one sat down and the Stewards and Police soon gave up trying to get anyone to sit. Palace quickly made their intentions known, not for them holding out for a draw, they wanted to win the match and Posh were forced back for much of the first 25 minutes, indeed only a superb reflex save by Bobby Olejnik followed by a goal line clearance by McCann when Palace seemed certain to score kept the scores level. Then a moment of sheer magic, a forward run down the left by Lee Tomlin, jinking his way past countless Defenders before firing the ball past Speroni for 1-0, surely a goal worthy of maintaining our Championship status seemed to be the consensus as 2,700 Posh fans let out a mighty roar. The away section of Selhurst Park was rocking! Palace were rattled and as they pushed forward once more their passes began to go astray and Posh battled to clear their lines. then, just before half-time, disaster. Was it a penalty? I don't know we were too far away and had a restricted view of the incident, most of us thought it was not but the only person that mattered, Mr Pawson the referee, disagreed with us and pointed to the spot and the ball was coolly dispatched by Palace's top scorer Glenn Murray. Posh fans were subdued at half-time with the knowledge that Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday were winning - we had to score again or we were down. Shortly after the second half had commenced a couple of muted cheers gradually swelled to a roar as news filtered through to the Posh fans that Huddersfield had equalised -we were safe once more. It got even better 10 minutes later when Mendez-Laing cut in from the right wing, breezing past the Palace defence and scoring a superb solo goal. Even the news that Barnsley were ahead once more could not dampen our celebrations, we were winning, other results would be meaningless if it remained that way. A second Huddersfield equaliser made it even better, giving us a cushion against a late Palace goal. With only a few minutes remaining it all started to fall apart for Posh. That old warrior Kevin Philips, brought on as a sub, scored, but it was still all square in the Yorkshire derby, surely we could hold on? With the seconds ticking away a needlessly conceded free-kick, just outside the area proved to be Posh's undoing as the ball flew into the net off the head of Jedinak. Posh fans looked aghast, some sinking to their knees, others holding their heads in disbelief, in 6 agonising minutes we had gone from winning to losing, from safety to relegation. Would we be able to lift ourselves for one final push to get a vital goal to level the match, would Huddersfield do us a favour and score a winner against Barnsley? A forlorn hope. The final whistle sounded and news filtered through that Barnsley had held on for their priceless point - we were down, no away-days to the likes of Forest, Blackburn or Bolton but MK bloody Dons instead (possibly even to the Cobblers at ****fields stadium). We stayed to give our support to the deflated players and management, our whole season turned upside down in the space of a few minutes (though in reality we were more likely undone by our horrendous start to the season and this was just one game too far). On the journey home I was disappointed at being relegated but not down-hearted, as long as we manage to keep the majority of the squad and add a couple more to replace McCann and Little, (unless they agree to signing new contracts on reduced wages) then I think we have a very good chance of emulating Doncaster. On the last 2 occasions in League 1 we have been promoted as runners-up and via the play-offs, lets do it as Champions next season! Thanks to all the fans of other clubs for their good wishes and commiserations, football can be a cruel game at times, as it was today, but we still have a club to support, one in good financial health, unlike Pompey and Aldershot fans. Hopefully Minxy's duvet will get a lot less use as well. Roll on 2013-14 UTP!
Thanks for that OPP .... as ever a great report Proud to be a Posh fan & congratulations to Boydie .... he deserves his chance
Just to clarify AHLL - she hides under it when Posh are playing and losing if she is not at the match.....
OPP - have you got a source/link to the Jack Payne situation re your Darragh MacAnthony comment. Know a fan that was at the player of the year awards and he spoke to Jack Payne. Nothing has been signed.
I only have it second hand - apparently Darragh posted the comment on Twitter, I have not seen it to verify as I don't have a Twitter account.
