Vital Posh looks at previous matches between Peterborough United and Watford.
Peterborough United host their final home game of the season finally in the knowledge that they will be playing in the npower Championship again next season.
Watford provide the opposition at London Road which could also see the Posh pair of George Boyd and Paul Taylor playing their last home game for Posh as they look set to depart the club in the summer.
Posh have had the better of the matches between these two sides with 14 wins compared to the Hornets 8 wins. Five League matches have ended in a draw.
The Hornets won the fixture earlier in the season 3-2.
| Past League Results | |||||||
| 2011/12 | 29 Oct | Watford | 3 | – | 2 | Peterborough | Championship |
| 2009/10 | 13 Mar | Watford | 0 | – | 1 | Peterborough | Championship |
| 2009/10 | 19 Dec | Peterborough | 2 | – | 1 | Watford | Championship |
| 1996/97 | 04 Mar | Peterborough | 2 | – | 1 | Watford | League Div Two |
| 1996/97 | 21 Sep | Watford | 0 | – | 0 | Peterborough | League Div Two |
| 1993/94 | 05 Apr | Peterborough | 3 | – | 4 | Watford | League Div One |
| 1993/94 | 28 Dec | Watford | 2 | – | 1 | Peterborough | League Div One |
| 1992/93 | 27 Mar | Peterborough | 0 | – | 0 | Watford | League Div One |
| 1992/93 | 03 Nov | Watford | 1 | – | 2 | Peterborough | League Div One |
| 1978/79 | 18 Nov | Peterborough | 0 | – | 1 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1978/79 | 26 Aug | Watford | 1 | – | 2 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1974/75 | 19 Apr | Watford | 0 | – | 3 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1974/75 | 12 Oct | Peterborough | 1 | – | 0 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1967/68 | 26 Sep | Watford | 4 | – | 1 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1967/68 | 04 Sep | Peterborough | 5 | – | 1 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1966/67 | 15 Nov | Watford | 3 | – | 1 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1966/67 | 17 Oct | Peterborough | 2 | – | 2 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1965/66 | 19 Feb | Watford | 1 | – | 0 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1965/66 | 04 Sep | Peterborough | 2 | – | 2 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1964/65 | 17 Apr | Peterborough | 2 | – | 1 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1964/65 | 24 Oct | Watford | 1 | – | 1 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1963/64 | 15 Feb | Peterborough | 0 | – | 1 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1963/64 | 05 Oct | Watford | 1 | – | 2 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1962/63 | 02 Mar | Peterborough | 4 | – | 0 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1962/63 | 13 Oct | Watford | 2 | – | 3 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1961/62 | 28 Aug | Peterborough | 4 | – | 3 | Watford | Division 3 (Old) |
| 1961/62 | 22 Aug | Watford | 2 | – | 3 | Peterborough | Division 3 (Old) |
Last Time Out at London Road
It was almost half way through the 2009/10 season when Watford travelled to London Road. The Hornets were in 10th place but were only 2 points off the play-offs. Posh on the other hand had only won 2 out of 21 League games and were bottom of the League; seven points from safety!
A crowd of just 7,723 watched the final match before Christmas and it was the Posh fans that went home with an early Christmas present following a 2-1 win after Exodus Geohaghon popped up with the winner!
It was a minor miracle that the match even went ahead as ground staff and volunteers helped to clear the London Road pitch and terraces of snow.
Left back Scott Griffiths had the first effort of the game but his volley from 25-yards went over the bar. It didn`t take long for Posh to take the lead though as a quick attack by Griffiths and Aaron McLean found George Boyd before he provided a superb ball to Lee FRECKLINGTON at the back post who easily slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Posh used the strengths of Exodus to cause Watford major problems with his long throws but it was Watford who nearly equalised after a poor header from Paul Coutts caused problems for Gaby Zakuani but it was Joe Lewis who was the hero as he dashed from his line to clear the danger from Cleverley after the Hornets player took a heavy touch of the ball.
Two chances then fell to the Posh front pairing. Firstly, some good work from Frecklington set up Craig Mackail-Smith, but his shot could only fly past the upright. Then McLean hit his shot wide as well after being played in by Coutts.
With just 10 minutes remaining of the first half, CMS and McLean linked up well with the latter firing over the bar.
The final chance of the half fell to Watfords Icelandic player Helguson but his header went wide following a cross from Eustace.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1 – 0 Watford
Posh almost doubled their advantage inside 15 seconds of the second half after a cross from CMS found Chris Whelpdale at the back post but his shot was excellently saved by Hornets keeper Scott Loach.
It was Watford that scored next though following a freekick after 49 minutes. The ball went to the back post where it hit Griffiths and fell kindly for EUSTACE to tap in an easy chance.
That goal boosted the visitors as a Graham shot was blocked by Exodus with the ball going behind for a corner. Helguson had a free header from the resulting corner but it didn`t cause Posh any problems. Henri Lansbury next tried his luck before Lewis made an excellent save from Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley. Lewis was definitely the busier of the two keepers as he then had to make another good save from Helguson. Helguson then tried an overhead kick but could only send the ball flying over the bar.
Despite Watford having much of the possession in the second half, it was Posh who got themselves back in front after 78 minutes and it was from the unlikeliest of players. A superb cross from Boyd found the head of Exodus GEOHAGHON who buried his header past Loach.
Watford came straight back at Posh though with a flick on from Graham found Helguson just two yards from goal but Lewis somehow managed to save his point blank range shot!
Lansbury had another effort from long range before five minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official. During that time, it was Posh who created the best chance when CMS raced clear but his effort was saved by the Hornets keeper.
Final Score: Peterborough United 2 – 1 Watford
Posh moved off the bottom of the Championship following this win while Plymouth dropped to the bottom. Watford dropped three places.
Posh:Lewis, Zakuani, Geohaghon, Bennett, Griffiths, Coutts, Frecklington (sub Lee 89min), Boyd, Whelpdale, Mackail-Smith, Mclean.
Unused subs: McKeown, Rowe, Diagouraga, Batt, Green, Simpson.
Hornets: Loach, Mariappa, Lansbury (sub Hoskins 89min), DeMerit, Graham, Helguson, Doyley, Harley (sub Severin 71min), Cleverley, Eustace, Hodson.
Unused subs: Lee, Bennett, Henderson, Sadler, Kiernan.
Referee: K.Evans
Attendance: 7,723 (1,787 Hornets fans)
| Peterborough | Watford | |
| Goals: | 2 | 1 |
| Possession: | 52% | 48% |
| Shots On Target: | 7 | 8 |
| Shots Off Target: | 6 | 6 |
| Corners: | 5 | 7 |
| Fouls: | 9 | 4 |
| Most Fouls: | Coutts (2) | Cleverley (1) |
| Yellow Cards: | 0 | 2 |
| Red Cards: | 0 | 0 |
| Scorers: | Frecklington (9) Geohaghon (78) |
Eustace (49) |
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @mwl1967
Photos courtesy of www.theposhpics.com
