You don’t have to beat Posh to be privileged

By: Oli | November 1st, 2009

Barnsley vs. Peterborough
And beating Posh doesn’t mean that we are privileged. But, we did play quite well, as you must do the win in this league. What this was, was something Davey always struggled with. Peterborough were without doubt, the worst team we’ve played this season. We didn’t play fantastically, but had the right balance between all the different factors required to take three points that many teams like us will take this season. Clinically picking up points where we need to.

We had already begun to assert our authority with a bright start, which made the penalty all the more disappointing. My initial reaction was one of disbelief, but I haven’t seen it again, so won’t pass comment. But, to score straight off the kick off showed the kind you spirit we haven’t shown for months, no, years. We kick off, play it wide, win a throw in, Shotton to Anderson, Anderson crosses over the abysmal Ben Amos, and Bogdanovic heads home. We really didn’t push much after that, but had one deadly counter attack, which Anderson worked brilliantly to send Macken through for an angled drive into the roof of the net. The second half was relitavely dull. The Posh dominated the ball, but created no good chances, while we could have sneaked several, notably Macken’s being ruled off-side, and several of the Leo Messi esque. cut ins which Hammill has become so good at.

Our defence was solid, and kept the opposition out for the whole game really. As usual, Ryan Shotton was unbeatable. We chanted his name; the next step is sign him up. The key of organisation has become a feature since Steele returned. Really, an excellent performance.
The attack can have an adjective attached to it that I wouldn’t have expected to for a long while. Clinical. They looked like they could cut Peterborough apart at will, and I don’t really understand why they didn’t go for more goals. Everyone looked on form, and everyone seemed to be playing well. As I previously mentioned, they have no class in midfield, and we dominated them right there. Anderson went straight through them, and if it wasn’t for his injury, Hallfredsson would have done the same.

Against United on Tuesday night, I bemoaned the disgraceful state of the atmosphere we created, for a game of that size. Well, we went out to right that particular wrong yesterday. If the score line reflected the noise, we would have scored 10. We don’t all like every chant, but we all love noise. Great stuff, give yourselves a pat on the back.

So, we did the job. But, it’s not really a big deal any more. Beating Peterborough is like slapping a fish. It’s satisfying, but any fool can do it.
Ratings
Shotton: 9 – Played well, again. Future Stoke captain? I hope not.
Foster: 8 – His best performance of the season, looked like the real Steve Foster again.
Doyle: 8 – Now, Doyle has got some stick, and certainly not got a lot of praise. But, he shut Boyd down great today, and won a lot of balls. I wouldn’t say I wanted him back yet, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Anderson: MOTM 9 – Robins has turned a functional holding player into a free flowing, defence destroying machine.
Bogdanovic: 7 – Didn’t do a whole lot. Except score.

So, this was a good away performance, which we need to learn to replicate. The other issue here is that I, and others, so, so nearly got a prediction right. 3-1 I said, and 2-1 I got back. On the counter of that, I thought Gray would score, and he didn’t even play. Ho hum.