Ball Salvages Point For Posh

Derby County 1 – 1 Peterborough United
Location: Pride Park
Date: 28th April, 2012
Attendance: 27,354 (1,741 Posh fans)

Going into the final match of the season, both teams were happy with how the season had gone. The Rams improved on their previous season while Posh were looking for Championship survival. However, Derby couldn`t have been happy the outcome of this match based on the chances they created.

Posh started brightly and the way they were knocking the ball around, reminded you of their performances from earlier in the season. Lee Tomlin had the first notable chance of the match when he fired an effort from 25-yards only to see his shot go wide.

Paul Jones produced an excellent save shortly afterwards as he had to react quickly to a Steve Davies effort which looked goalbound. He produced another save moments later when Davies tried his luck again, this time from 30-yards, but Jones nervously stopped the effort.

Tyrone Barnett stabbed a shot straight at Derby keeper Legzdins followed good work from Paul Taylor before Derby got their noses in front. Little was having constant problems with the tricky Nathan Tyson down Derby`s left wing and as Alcock went to assist his defensive partner, Tyson put a simple cross into the box which Theo ROBINSON touched onwards towards goal and passed a flat footed Jones.

Tyson was lucky not to get booked when he dived in the area looking for a penalty when under challenge from George Boyd, but the referee just waved away appeals for the spot kick.

Jones, not looking comfortable with shots from distance, blocked another long range effort, this time from Derbys player of the season Bryson.

Posh created a couple of chances towards the end of the first half as Gaby Zakuani headed over from a McCann free-kick before Tomlin had another effort from 30-yards but once again, the ball went wide of the goal.

Half-time: Derby County 1 – 0 Peterborough United

Bryson had the first chance of the second half for Derby but he could only direct his 25-yard shot over the bar. In a more even contest, McCann and Alcock both had efforts from long range as Posh went in search of an equaliser.

Five minutes into the second half, a good move down the Rams right ended with Tyson tapping the ball into the net but he was ruled off-side.

18-year-old Kgosi Ntlhe made his second appearance in a Posh shirt when he came on in the 56th minute alongside Danny Kearns. Joe Newell and Paul Taylor were the players to make way. However, just 30 seconds after coming on, Ntlhe was harshly awarded a yellow card as he tried to get out of the way of a Derby player but as they crossed each other, Ntlhe must`ve caught the Rams player as he tumbled to the ground.

Another attack from Posh ended with a corner, but the delivery was slightly too high for Barnett to connect properly.

Fergie`s final change came just six minutes later as Tyrone Barnett was replaced by David Ball.

George Boyd was caught with the ball as he dallied around which set up a chance for Robinson, but his curled effort was easily saved by Jones. Robinsons was then substituted to applause by the Derby fans as he was replaced by teenage Mason Bennett.

Two minutes later, Posh were pressing the Derby backline and as the ball fell to Tomlin on the edge of the area, he shifted the ball onto his weaker left foot before unleashing a poor effort at goal.

Posh started playing the ball about as the substitutions settled down. With just 12 minutes left of the match, McCann had a chance to equalise from a free-kick but his effort was beaten away by Legzdins.

With 9 minutes remaining, Posh got themselves on the scoresheet to bring the contest level. An excellent through ball from McCann found BALL who raced through before shooting from just outside the area. His shot beat the onrushing Legzdins and flew into the top corner of the net.

Posh probably didn`t deserve to be on level terms, but in truth, they were lucky not to come away with all three points as Tomlin played in Boyd who took a shot just as a Derby defender came sliding in. Luckily for Derby, the ball struck the Rams players leg before hitting the upright and going out of play. Surprisingly, the referee, who made a few errors during the game, awarded a goal kick!!

Had that effort gone in, it would`ve been the icing on the cake for Boyd who is expected to depart London Road during the summer after advising the club he would not be signing, or even entering into negotiations for a new contract.

Five minutes of added time were indicated. Exactly where this time came from is unknown, but it was played out without any real efforts on either goal as the game ended in a draw.

Full-time: Derby County 1 – 1 Peterborough United

As the Derby players prepared themselves for the obligatory end of season farewell, Posh boss Darren Ferguson brought all the Posh players over to the away end to applaud the fans for the final time this season.

Rams: Legzdins, Brayford, Bryson (Bailey 86), Buxton, Shackell, Davies, Roberts, Robinson (Bennett 73), Tyson, Hendrick, Hughes (Carroll 82).
Unused subs: Lelan, Thomas.

Posh: Jones, Little, Alcock, Zakuani, Rowe, McCann, Boyd, Newell (Ntlhe 56), Tomlin, Taylor (Kearns 56), Barnett (Ball 62).
Unused subs: Grant, Brisley.

Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 27,354 (1,741 Posh fans)

	Derby	Peterborough

Goals:	1	1
Possession:	52%	48%
Shots On Target:	13	9
Shots Off Target:	10	8
Corners:	10	5
Fouls:	12	9
Most Fouls:	Robinson (3)	Boyd (3)
Yellow Cards:	0	1
Red Cards:	0	0
Scorers:	Robinson (21)	Ball (82)