Posh 2 (Assombalonga, Tomlin (pen)) - Oldham 1 (MacDonald) When I was younger the name Oldham was synonymous with batteries. Posh could certainly have done with that product to kick some life into their lack-lustre display against a neat, tidy, workman-like Oldham team in their post-Dickov era. Posh were fortunate to score 2 rather than the 5 we put past the 'Latics last time we were in this Division. Our tempo, control and tackling was far too ponderous and we lacked any sort of creativity, sitting off the Oldham players, who seemed to win virtually every 50/50 challenge, allowing them to pass the ball easily though, apart from one shot straight at Bobby Olejnik and another which was superbly tipped over the bar by the keeper, they did not create that much of a goal mouth threat, and Posh created even less. This match had a feeling of deja vu, reminiscent of the Swindon game, though to be fair Swindon are a technically better team than Oldham, the Lancashire team making up for this with hard work, harrying the Posh players whenever they did get the ball, forcing errors. Posh have numerous players with technical ability, but little of that was on show today. Darren Ferguson had said before this game we needed to work harder than the opposition in League One, we could not just turn up and expect to win, yet the majority of the hard work was from the Oldham team. Just as we did against Swindon, Posh took the lead in the first half, against the run of play, thanks to route 1 football and superb control and finishing by MOM Britt Assombalonga, his 3rd League goal in as many matches. I felt we were fortunate to be leading at the break and that after half-time surely Posh would up the pace and run out comfortable winners. Not a bit of it! We seemed to get worse, balls hoofed aimlessly forward or directly into touch, if Oldham could up their tempo and goal threat the match was theirs for the taking. Ferguson made 2 changes early in the second period, Mark Little coming on for Craig Alcock, who seemed to earn the Referee's displeasure with every challenge. He was already on a yellow card so it seemed a wise decision. Jack Payne also entered the fray in place of Danny Kearns. Danny Swanson replaced a rather ineffectual Grant McCann later in the game and it was at this point that we began to win a little control in midfield, Lee Tomlin in particular bursting into life, seizing on a misplaced Oldham pass, surging down the right firing narrowly wide, shooting across the keeper. Assombalonga was instrumental in Posh's second goal, a ball played over the top of the Oldham defenders for Britt to run onto and the keeper mistiming his challenge to concede the penalty. Tomlin fired right as the keeper dived in the opposite direction, 2 - 0 with 10 minutes remaining - surely game over? That is not the Posh way, instead of keeping possession and playing in the Oldham half we sat too deep allowing them to come forward, our passing and tackling became ragged and disorganised, it was a disappointment that Oldham's MacDonald scored, but it was not undeserved, indeed, with virtually the last kick of the game they might well have scored an equalising goal. Well done Oldham, you were the better team today, dictating the tempo and style, you will win a lot more games than you lose. As for Posh, for the second home match in succession we played below par and won, a welcome 3 points, but not pretty to watch.
Good summary there OPP They say it's the sign of a good team, that they can play badly & still come away with 3 points .... on that showing Posh must be bleedin marvelous !! What can I say that was good this afternoon: .... met up with good mates in the pub .... sat next to a nice man & had a good chat about the Posh .... Britt scored another good goal .... the penalty was well taken .... Joe Lewis isn't our goalie anymore .... hubby took me out for a pizza .... it didn't rain
Well done Minxy, you keeping away from our board. I'll have a nice glass of red ready for you in The Hinge.
We looked a lot better when we went 4-4-2 mid second half Tomlin came alive on the right and was unlucky not to score earlier Swanson was busy on the left Think Oldham are getting too much credit yes they played well but hardly threatened untill we switched off, one decent save from Bobby first half nothing second till our lack of concentration Alcock was off his game given a torrid time and it was wise subbing him with that yellow he was in danger of an early bath Six out of ten yesterday can do better Britt is on hell of a player strong with lots of energy gives the back line no rest constant threat 3 goals in 3 league games keeps playing like he is and it'll be another nice profit in a couple of yearseasily top man yesterday great strike for his goal and won the pen Tomlin applauding the fans after his pen was that a goodbye or a thank you...... Stevie May added a bit more to his fee with a goal for St Johnstone yesterday and rumoured to be signing this next week with their manager saying he wants it sorting ASAP Fergie stating he wants 2 or 3 out and a couple in expect Ajose and Sinclair to be off and possibly Barnett before the window shuts
