Thought it was going to be one of those frustrating evenings when we were all over them first half without scoring, then when they got a penalty that was definitely a foup outside of the box.
First 15 minutes I thought they had us sussed out, loads of balls into the channels had our defenders on the back foot, especially with the speed advantage they had over Macca and Jones, the latter picking up an incredibly early yellow.
Once we settled down and starting winning the midfield battle instead of bypassing it, we started to pile on the pressure, culminating in Berry hitting the post and Godden having a powerful volley saved by Steer.
Last 10 minutes of the first half we lost momentum and it fizzled out to halftime.
My mum won £50 on the Valley Pass prize draw
Second half we started much stronger, and after a few more attempts, TC cut inside and drilled a low shot that the Peterborough defender instinctively threw his hand down towards, and a penalty was given, which Godden tucked away with aplomb. Posh heads dropped, apart from Fernandez who lost his in a reckless lunge at Small, and was duly given his marching orders. However, there was a twist, as this seemed to fire up Peterborough, and after a lunge by Berry getting him in the ref's book, a ball through spelled danger, and Ramsay, caught behind the attacker, brought him down and another penalty was given, and promptly dispatched.
Suddenly with a point to cling on to, Posh wasted away as many minutes as possible, and despite making a slew of attacking subs in Chuks, Miles and Mr Gilbert, we suddenly looked devoid of ideas and impetus, the game ebbing away from us, until a late corner was given and Big Macca stooped at the far post to nod in the winner, the scapegoat of the past few games suddenly thrust into the spotlight as the unassuming hero
Another superb performance. We don't score a huge number of goals and tonight was more stressful than it needed to be but we've done brilliantly in the last couple of games. Across two games we've limited the opposition to 3 shots on target, and aside from one being a pen they weren't shots that were going to trouble the keeper. That's insane. We haven't looked properly troubled at the back apart from in two moments across two games. We shouldn't be taking that for granted, that's absolutely incredible work.
Tonight we were better for longer than we were against Stevenage. We should have put the game to bed before half time and a bit of bad luck and good keeping stopped us. The pen was a clear one and we should have killed the game off after that, especially after the red that was a nasty, frustrated lunge. Right after that we had a brief passage of play where we kept going forward, having the move break down and then winning the ball back which ended with Berry going a bit mad and giving away a free kick for a silly challenge. Right after that they broke and looked dangerous for the first time, Gillesphey let his man past him too easily when he should have brought him down, Jones was a bit AWOL and Ramsay got wrong side. With the pen the contact started outside but the question is whether it continued into the box, in which case it's a penalty. I don't really care enough to look again but that was the first and last time Peterborough looked like scoring and it's annoying all of our defenders lost their minds at the same time for it.
After that it was just a question of if we could stay switched on and make the extra man count, and we did. Coventry was so, so good at getting hold of the ball and dictating how we attacked. When he didn't get the ball it was slightly aimless punts upfield, when he did it was sweeping moves across the length of the pitch to drag Peterborough's players around. He's such an intelligent footballer and I don't think we would have scored without him running things. Docherty was excellent today and was key in forcing things when it needed forcing which led to both the goals even if they weren't assists for him. Deserved his header going in before the corner.
What a header from Gillesphey as well, any striker in the world would have been proud of that. I really like that since the transfer window when we signed a LCB and an attacking mid we've seen Gillesphey and Berry both keep their places and raise their games. Both on the scoresheet, both turning in some of their best performances, Jones has clearly managed these transfers in a way that's had more of a benefit than just the new blood that's come in. Really tough game coming up next but at the very least I trust the players will turn up which is a nice feeling. Right now it feels like we've become a bit of a monster at home so if we can just start making sure we turns the losses into draws and the draws into wins away anything can happen. Who after the Crawley game had us being 5 points off Wrexham in February?
The four recent home games eyed up as a gettable 12 point haul have all delivered. And we've done so without fully hitting our stride. The outlook for the rest of season is looking good!
It's a funny thing. Amidst all the doom and gloom at the time of our Rotherham 'no show' 4-2 defeat, I wrote that despite our League position, the opportunity was still there.
On 18th January, just 3 weeks ago I posted this:
Most of us are agreed that we don't honestly look like a promotion team.
Nor do most other sides above us though. Their form is as inconsistent as ours.
Any team that does finally put a run together could nail a play off place. That's exactly what we did from March 2019.
There's a lot of football still to be played this season. Unbelievably, despite our unconvincing season, the chance is still there.
In football, nothing is set in stone. A lot can change in 3 weeks - I mean, look where we are now.
Neither were pens. Defo red. Ref was useless. Result was fair. COYR! 😎
The hand that stopped the shot from TC that was going in must be a penalty. Other wise every defender would be able to cheat and hand ball with impunity. It not innocent until proved guilty in football.
When I walked out of the Valley on the 3rd December after losing to Crawley, I genuinely thought the season was over, and it would be 6 more months of league one mid table mediocrity.
If one of our players had made the tackle that led to the red card we'd all be (rightly) fuming, not complaining but wow, what an awful decision
Not really. Brownie explained it on CTV, those are the laws now, you go in studs up, its a red. No matter whether or not it’s with intent to harm. That’s why Docherty had to go, even though at the time I thought that looked harsh too. Seems that Ferguson accepts it too.
Started slowly again but started to get a grip of the match after 20 mins. Got our nose in front and after the sending off should have cruised it.
Dilly foul by Berry led to their penalty which at first look looked offside.
Got there in the end but cant recall ever seeing a worse group of officials on the pitch. Did he need to hold the game up prior to every free kick or corner about to be taken to lecture every player. Just get on with it and then make your decision on what you see.
Well deserved in the end and makes up for that 1-0 defeat a few years ago when they scored a ridiculous penalty in the last minute
Agree with Henry Irving description of the ref "fussy attention seeker" Had a weird system for a drop ball after an injury allowing first them then us to launch an attack unchallenged
Special mention for TC after our first subs which meant he found himself at RWB. Chased their player back and caught him up then shepherded the ball out for a GK. The look on their guy’s face -“where the heck did you just come from?”
Not convinced he needs a rest. The team needs him.
Comments
So went to Birmingham?
Very, very pleased to be wrong.
Once we settled down and starting winning the midfield battle instead of bypassing it, we started to pile on the pressure, culminating in Berry hitting the post and Godden having a powerful volley saved by Steer.
Last 10 minutes of the first half we lost momentum and it fizzled out to halftime.
My mum won £50 on the Valley Pass prize draw
Second half we started much stronger, and after a few more attempts, TC cut inside and drilled a low shot that the Peterborough defender instinctively threw his hand down towards, and a penalty was given, which Godden tucked away with aplomb. Posh heads dropped, apart from Fernandez who lost his in a reckless lunge at Small, and was duly given his marching orders. However, there was a twist, as this seemed to fire up Peterborough, and after a lunge by Berry getting him in the ref's book, a ball through spelled danger, and Ramsay, caught behind the attacker, brought him down and another penalty was given, and promptly dispatched.
Suddenly with a point to cling on to, Posh wasted away as many minutes as possible, and despite making a slew of attacking subs in Chuks, Miles and Mr Gilbert, we suddenly looked devoid of ideas and impetus, the game ebbing away from us, until a late corner was given and Big Macca stooped at the far post to nod in the winner, the scapegoat of the past few games suddenly thrust into the spotlight as the unassuming hero
https://x.com/cafcforlcafc/status/1889438840424689786?s=46&t=MojDVxh_AjG5taAWPQn6Tw
After about 6 years of crap it's just nice to walk away from the Valley with that winning feeling and the side are playing well
On 18th January, just 3 weeks ago I posted this:
In football, nothing is set in stone.
A lot can change in 3 weeks - I mean, look where we are now.
Well, you're not laughing now!
We lost our heads after the sending off, diving in, chasing shadows and leaving gaps at the back and we got punished.
At the game it looked like a pen for them but others watching on TV say it was dubious.
We rescued it at the end but it was a disjointed performance second half after we'd done everything but score in the first.
Maybe the not "best version of ourselves" performance as individuals and a team will be a timely reminder that the run in will not be easy.
Gilbert had some nice touches but need to see more of him.
Shouldn't really complain about a ref who gives us a pen and a sending off but what a fussy attention seeker.
Bottom line is three more points.
"We are staying up, say, we are staying up"
Other wise every defender would be able to cheat and hand ball with impunity.
It not innocent until proved guilty in football.
Well done for digging in Charlton, onto Birmingham.
Coventry, no?
Dilly foul by Berry led to their penalty which at first look looked offside.
Got there in the end but cant recall ever seeing a worse group of officials on the pitch. Did he need to hold the game up prior to every free kick or corner about to be taken to lecture every player. Just get on with it and then make your decision on what you see.
Well deserved in the end and makes up for that 1-0 defeat a few years ago when they scored a ridiculous penalty in the last minute
Had a weird system for a drop ball after an injury allowing first them then us to launch an attack unchallenged
Should have been out of sight first half but mentality was strong.
Gilbert had some good touches but agree with most, CC was quality.
Red was a 109% correct and was an awful challenge.
3 points and up to 5th..Get in Charlton!
Not convinced he needs a rest. The team needs him.