POsh 2 (Tomlin (pen), Assombalonga) MKDons 1 (McLeod) The return of our play-off rivals from 2011 a team we just love to beat. I went hoping for a team performance to rival that of the Reading Cup match rather than the 3 previous Home League games where we far from our best. As a team performance today it was absolutely outstanding, though not for the reasons I had hoped. Maestro asks on another thread had Posh lost the plot and playing dirty football - no, that is not the case. MK came to London Road for a point and were time-wasting and play-acting from the start. Did Knight-Percival deserve the red card? We in the Family Stand thought it might have been a challenge worthy of a Yellow at worst, the antics of Bamford, rolling around on the floor clutching his face, clearly convinced the Referee that Bamford had been pole-axed by Mike Tyson. Referees are supposed to be impartial yet the count of 4 yellow cards and 2 red cards against the Posh team is incredibly harsh, MK committed more fouls, some as bad as, if not worse than Posh's yet each MK transgression was met with nothing more than fatherly advice and a pat on the back. I have refereed when I was younger, albeit at a much lower level, Mr Drysdale you are not fit to wear the RA badge. Some MK fans had been commenting before the match that Drysdale had refereed them on 6 previous occasions and they had never lost, well now you have. After the first sending-off Darren Ferguson made the brave decision to keep all his attacking players on the pitch with Craig Alcock moving from Left Back to Centre Back and Skipper Tommy Rowe dropping into the now vacant LB slot. Such a shrewd tactical move paid handsome dividends, Posh and the crowd were fired up by the perceived injustice whilst MK seemed unable, or unwilling, to change their tactics now they had a man advantage. Posh were rewarded with a penalty (though no booking for the clumsy challenge) after a delightful, mazy run by Danny Swanson ended when he was fouled in the MK penalty area. Lee Tomlin stepped up and fired us into the lead much to the delight of the Home faithful. A few years ago Posh were in a similar situation in League playing against the Cobblers at Sixfields - losing a man and then scoring and going on to win the match, could we repeat that feat, we all hoped we could. Posh's tactics were clear, concede possession and space to MK when they were in their own half, conserve energy and then hit them on the counter attack. Just after the 1/2 hour mark Bamford had a shot at goal, the ball was cleared to Swanson who carried it forward neatly towards the halfway line before releasing Britt Assombalonga with a fine pass. Britt shrugged of the challenge of the defender as he surged towards the goal, he seemed to have been forced too wide and the angle was narrowing rapidly, but a clinical left-footed shot beat Martin for the vital second goal. London Road erupted, a pressure valve had been released, now we had something to defend, victory was a real possibility. MK lacked any real urgency, the passing and movement was pretty enough but training ground stuff. The second half continued the same way as the first, plenty of MK possession but no real cutting edge, though Bobby did make a couple of fine saves. With Posh players beginning to tire MK finally made the breakthrough, the ball ping-ponging around the Posh goalmouth before McLeod applied the finishing touch. The tension amongst the Home fans began to rise once more and worse was to follow when Mark Little was sent off 2 minutes later. It was hard enough with 10 how would we cope with 9? With grit, determination and not a little luck that's how. That will, I'm sure, go down as one of the performances of the season, not for the exhilarating football, but for the sheer determination, grit, application and will to win shown by the boys in blue. Posh are much improved at the back and that is down to the coaching ability of Gary Breen, his influence was clear to see. I am not bothered if we get beaten at Sunderland on Tuesday, all that match means to me is it is one less League game that our two red-carded defenders have to miss. A little foot-note - I met up with Bedrock Fred and Uncle Mick at Charters and Mick related that some MK fans had stood near him and commented on the selection of Real Ales available in the beer tent. Mick told them they would be alright going in as the beer was being served in plastic glasses. My Man of the Match is the whole Posh team, Management and coaching staff.
Thanks for that OPP, I really enjoyed reading your report. Lived for many years in Northants so have followed the Posh fortunes, good and bad, with interest. Last Sunday I had dinner with an elderly gent who lives in Wimbledon. His views on the franchise were anything but gentle. He goes to all of the AFC games and a number of away ones when he can. He will have been delighted to read the goings on at London Road.
It is always such a pleasure to beat MK dons Was listening to the end of the match on the radio .... can't tell you how relieved I was to hear the final whistle accompanied by the Posh fans singing about it only taking 9 men
Thanks OFF - always good to see one of my tips for promotion doing so well away from home, especially against Barnsley (whom I hope will change places with us for next season)
I think it is quite comical to hear Karl Robinson, the MK Manager, whinging that the Referee cost them the game -Mr Robinson you don't need the services of Specsavers you need the assistance of the best Opthalmologist available if you think the referee was biased against MK. I am sure we could have started with 9 men and still won
MKDons produced a video of their players stating 'We are ready - are you?' prior to yesterdays match. Great riposte from Posh Press Officer Phil Adlam - "We were ready - were you?"
What a fantastic squad we have, the atmosphere was amazing inside the ground from 2 and a half sides pathetic turn out as usual from the Dongs (just over 800 for their cup final ) Wasn't pretty football but the determination our lads showed was immense NKP's sending off a joke made even worse when late in the second half Gleeson did exactly the same to Britt and got nothing Franchise and their scouse manager again showed they don't have the stomach for a battle We only need nine men lol but the fans yesterday certainly ten, eleven, and twelve, Fergie was on the pitch at the ending clapping all sides of the ground and saying in his post match interview he thought the fans were tremendous and carried the boys through This "squad" is the best ever assembled at LR losing two defenders for three games would have hit us hard in bygone seasons but we now have players ready to step in in Zak and Nthl Oh and is Alan Smith modeling his hair on Robbie Savages lol
Was all setup to go then Wilma reminded me we are at a wedding :-( Uncle Mick was interested in going
