A game that we probably shouldn't have lost.
Both sides unsurprisingly made a number of changes.
We started really slowly, with everyone looking as if they were running in treacle, in midfield especially. Peterborough looked significantly better for the opening 35 minutes or so and scored a simple one on one. We were really struggling with the press, we couldn't play through it because our passing was too laboured and we couldn't play over it because the ball wasn't sticking up top. We came into the game more in the last 10 minutes of the opening period, Whittaker made a few good solo runs but couldn't test their keeper. Jephcott could have possibly done better with an effort he put straight at the keeper.
Randell's introduction at half time gave us more control in the middle of the park. Ennis had a free header soon after the restart but Peterborough's keeper made the save - Ennis probably should have done better. In terms of chance creation we were the far better team in the second half, although there were still some nervy moments as Peterborough pressed high. With each substitution we seemed to grow in confidence. Azaz sent a few efforts over the bar. Randell had a chance but could also only fire over. Whittaker forced a good save. Endacott sent in a great cross but nobody could meet it. Time ticked away and into 2 of 4 minutes added on we won a corner, Cooper got the shout from the bench to head up, but then we inexplicably took a short corner, lost the ball and Peterborough broke to score.
We were disjointed, but we did create opportunities - we simply weren't sharp enough in front of goal. I still think the 3421 has merit, but the front three tonight weren't the players to execute it properly.
Cooper wasn't tested much from a shot-stopping point of view, he couldn't do a lot about the first and he was hung out to dry for the second, but I do think his distribution could have been better. At the back I thought all three starting CB's had reasonable if not spectacular games, Gillesphey made a few too many sloppy passes when he came on.
Edwards was his usual energetic self and he was one of the few trying to get us going in the opening 45. Endacott put in a great shift, he made mistakes as you'd expect but he also did what I haven't seen Law do enough - to be honest what I haven't seen Grant do enough either - in that he backed himself and constantly took on his man.
I thought both starting central midfielders had poor games. Butcher was pulled at HT after failing to really influence things in the first half, we looked better with Randell. Houghton was sloppy throughout with numerous misplaced passes and he was caught in possession too many times.
Whittaker was lively and he tried to make things happen but his end product was lacking. Jephcott shouldn't be playing unless we're playing with two up top, I got tired at the number of times he backed into a defender, fell over and then claimed he'd been fouled. I thought Ennis was ineffective, his first touch was poor, his link up play with the other two in the three was poor, he was outmuscled so many times, I'm disappointed because I've been one of the people talking about how effective he could be in a three but perhaps not on tonight's evidence, we looked more threatening with Hardie. We improved significantly with Azaz but he was guilty of missing the target on a few occasions.
Despite Endacott's good performance, I don't think anyone did enough to force their way into contention and I'd go with the same eleven on Saturday as against Barnsley.
Whilst not directly influencing the result, the officials were poor. Every throw in was a complete lottery, as was every corner and every 50/50. I don't think I've ever seen Schumacher as animated toward a fourth official as he was tonight.
Cooper - 6
Wilson - 6
Lonwijk - 6
Galloway - 6
Edwards - 7
Houghton - 4
Butcher - 4
Endacott - 8
Whittaker - 6
Jephcott - 4
Ennis - 4
Randell - 6
Gillesphey - 5
Azaz - 7
Mayor - 5
Hardie - 5
Both sides unsurprisingly made a number of changes.
We started really slowly, with everyone looking as if they were running in treacle, in midfield especially. Peterborough looked significantly better for the opening 35 minutes or so and scored a simple one on one. We were really struggling with the press, we couldn't play through it because our passing was too laboured and we couldn't play over it because the ball wasn't sticking up top. We came into the game more in the last 10 minutes of the opening period, Whittaker made a few good solo runs but couldn't test their keeper. Jephcott could have possibly done better with an effort he put straight at the keeper.
Randell's introduction at half time gave us more control in the middle of the park. Ennis had a free header soon after the restart but Peterborough's keeper made the save - Ennis probably should have done better. In terms of chance creation we were the far better team in the second half, although there were still some nervy moments as Peterborough pressed high. With each substitution we seemed to grow in confidence. Azaz sent a few efforts over the bar. Randell had a chance but could also only fire over. Whittaker forced a good save. Endacott sent in a great cross but nobody could meet it. Time ticked away and into 2 of 4 minutes added on we won a corner, Cooper got the shout from the bench to head up, but then we inexplicably took a short corner, lost the ball and Peterborough broke to score.
We were disjointed, but we did create opportunities - we simply weren't sharp enough in front of goal. I still think the 3421 has merit, but the front three tonight weren't the players to execute it properly.
Cooper wasn't tested much from a shot-stopping point of view, he couldn't do a lot about the first and he was hung out to dry for the second, but I do think his distribution could have been better. At the back I thought all three starting CB's had reasonable if not spectacular games, Gillesphey made a few too many sloppy passes when he came on.
Edwards was his usual energetic self and he was one of the few trying to get us going in the opening 45. Endacott put in a great shift, he made mistakes as you'd expect but he also did what I haven't seen Law do enough - to be honest what I haven't seen Grant do enough either - in that he backed himself and constantly took on his man.
I thought both starting central midfielders had poor games. Butcher was pulled at HT after failing to really influence things in the first half, we looked better with Randell. Houghton was sloppy throughout with numerous misplaced passes and he was caught in possession too many times.
Whittaker was lively and he tried to make things happen but his end product was lacking. Jephcott shouldn't be playing unless we're playing with two up top, I got tired at the number of times he backed into a defender, fell over and then claimed he'd been fouled. I thought Ennis was ineffective, his first touch was poor, his link up play with the other two in the three was poor, he was outmuscled so many times, I'm disappointed because I've been one of the people talking about how effective he could be in a three but perhaps not on tonight's evidence, we looked more threatening with Hardie. We improved significantly with Azaz but he was guilty of missing the target on a few occasions.
Despite Endacott's good performance, I don't think anyone did enough to force their way into contention and I'd go with the same eleven on Saturday as against Barnsley.
Whilst not directly influencing the result, the officials were poor. Every throw in was a complete lottery, as was every corner and every 50/50. I don't think I've ever seen Schumacher as animated toward a fourth official as he was tonight.
Cooper - 6
Wilson - 6
Lonwijk - 6
Galloway - 6
Edwards - 7
Houghton - 4
Butcher - 4
Endacott - 8
Whittaker - 6
Jephcott - 4
Ennis - 4
Randell - 6
Gillesphey - 5
Azaz - 7
Mayor - 5
Hardie - 5
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