LondonRoad.net

A load of old Sturrocks

OK, something’s wrong. If you think the result is bad, you should have seen the performance.

Posh, who were poor in a 2-0 defeat at Blackpool on Saturday made big - and bizarre - changes to the starting line-up, resulting in a dire, goal-free first half. Jamie Day replaced Tom Williams at left back, Charlie Lee (who earlier in the day we were told was still injured) replaced Gabriel Zakuani (who wasn’t even on the bench) and new loanee Danny Rose started in a three-man midfield with Dave and Lee Frecklington.

The second half turned in bottom-side Plymouth’s favour when Day was on the end of a crunching tackle, which looked for all the world like a penalty, and had to be stretchered off. No sooner had Williams come on in his place than Plymouth took the lead. They soon doubled it and Posh’s only response was to bring on Shaun Batt and replace the struggling Lee with Krystian Pearce.

Craig Mackail-Smith pulled one back very late on, but Posh’s overall lack of creativity, poor crossing and misplaced passes meant they deserved to lose.

Prior to the match, the crowd applauded the late Terry Bly, the spearhead of a Posh side that had such success in their debut league season. Now, as the current crop of players step up to a higher level, things are looking very different.

Defeat on Saturday at home to Forest will leave Posh floundering, but in reality we already are.

So, what’s the answer? Do we need new players? A new manager? Or are you confident it will all come together? Have your say on our forums.

Terry Bly - Posh Legend

Everyone at londonroad.net was sad to hear of the death of Terry Bly.

Terry scored 81 goals in 88 appearances for Posh, including 52 in the 1960-61 season - a league record.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

You can leave a tribute to Terry here.

Ant and Dicked

First half goals from Craig Mackail-Smith and Tommy Williams gave Posh a 2-0 win over a weakened Newcastle United side and a ticket through to the fourth round of the League Cup.

Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Peter Loverkrands and Danny Guthrie (later sent off for two bookable offences) were the only names of note to start the game for the visitors, with Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith and Geremi all coming on in the second half. But forget them, the real stars here were the Posh players - Mackail-Smith, Aaron Mclean, George Boyd, Dave, Paul Coutts, Gabriel Zakuani… I could go on. It could have been 6-0, but for the incredible reactions of Newcastle keeper Tim Krul.

A dominant performance and comfortable win. Who do you want in the next round? Have your say on our forums.

O 'tis Reading

Right, hands up who, at half-time, thought we could win this one?

Liar.

It was a poor first-half performance, not helped by inconsistent officials and a reading team determined to fall over at every opportunity. Still, they deserved their 2-0 half-time lead - courtesy of a well-taken free kick (even if the awarding of it was somewhat dubious) and an unchallenged header.

At half-time, Fergie hauled off Chris Whepdale and Toumani Diagouraga, bringing on Lee Frecklington and Dean Keates, and switching to a 4-3-3, or 4-1-2-1-2, or 4-3-1-2 or something.

Whatever the figures, it worked, as first Man of the Match Craig Mackail-Smith headed in a Tommy Williams cross, and then Aaron McLean made no mistake at all as he powered the ball past Adam Federici, following a counter-attack led by George Boyd.

Reading then switched to a more defensive formation and took some breaking down, but the winner came in the end, George Boyd scoring his most Boydesque goal yet, a back-heeled flick from a low Russell Martin cross.

18th in the league, seven points, four games unbeaten - what was anyone worried about?