Posh back to their best against poor Tangerines

Peterborough United 3 – 1 Blackpool
Location: London Road
Date: 10th March, 2012
Attendance: 7,540

Following arguably Posh`s worst performance of the season on Tuesday night, everything seemed to click into place which resulted in arguably their best performance of the season!

Posh boss Darren Ferguson gave new recruit Shaun Brisley his Posh debut at centre back with Gaby Zakuani and Craig Alcock either side of him.

Brisley made an outstanding debut and if he can repeat this performance match after match, then Posh will have purchased yet another bargain.

Tommy Rowe dropped in to left back following the early release of Matt Briggs from his loan. George Boyd was also reinstated on the left hand of midfield which many Posh fans believe is his best position…and his display certain backed that view up as many felt he was man of the match.

For the first 30 minutes, the game was really open with play going from end to end but it was Posh that were creating chance after chance. Posh had the first chance which fell for Paul Taylor after only 18 seconds but as he broke into the box, instead of playing a simple ball across the box to Tyrone Barnett for what would`ve been a simple tap in, he chose to shoot which was blocked by Alex Baptiste. Moments later, Taylor raced clear again and this time chose to go round the keeper but he took the ball slightly wide. He played the ball back in towards George Boyd who dummied the ball which set up a chance for Lee Frecklington but his effort was blocked on the line.

Barnett then saw an effort go wide before a chance for Taylor was collected by Gilks. A cross by the impressive Tommy Rowe just evaded Boyd and was cleared by Evatt. Some good play by Boyd, who was enjoying his return to the left side of midfield, set up Frecklington but his shot went wide of the goal.

With the number of chances being created at both ends, it was a surprise that it took so long for the deadlock to be broken. A foul by Thomas Ince on Tommy Rowe led to a freekick by Lee Tomlin on 27 minutes which was hit high towards the back post where the tall Evatt competed for the ball with million pound man Tyrone BARNETT and it was Barnett who won the header to send the ball past a flat footed Gilks.

Gilks was the main reason Posh failed to chalk up another goalfest as he denied chance after chance. Taylor saw his freekick pushed away by the keeper before LuaLua had a curling effort from distance sail just past the post with Paul Jones scrambling across his goal.

One minute before half-time, Posh got their rewards for what was an excellent first half display as they broke away quickly following a pass from Boyd to Barnett. Barnett ran into the box before sliding the ball squarely to TAYLOR who had the easiest of chances to fire in for Posh`s second goal.

Half-time: Peterborough United 2 – 0 Blackpool

No changes were made by either team at the break and it was Blackpool that had the first chance of the half. A long throw into the area found LuaLua but his overhead kick from just 6 yards failed to trouble the Posh goal as the ball sailed over the bar.

The movement so lacking in Posh`s last match was non stop in this match as some slick passing and moving put Frecklington free and as he raced towards the Seasiders goal, Gilks came out and managed to block his shot with the ball going out for a corner.

Taylor had another effort parried by Gilks before a last ditch tackle by Matt Phillips denied Barnett from getting his second of the match. From the corner, Posh nearly added a third as the ball was met by Zakuani but his header was cleared off the line.

Blackpool were causing Posh more problems at the start of the second half as they looked to get back into the match and a Sylvestre freekick was blocked for a corner. Posh were still creating chances as Boyd had a glorious chance to put the match to bed but his shot was saved by the legs of Gilks.

The prolific Kevin Phillips entered the contest on 66 minutes in place of LuaLua but he failed to create or capitalise on any chances.

More excellent play by Boyd on the left created a chance for Tomlin but he could only fire wide of the goal. McCann had a rare chance when the midfield seemed to disappear but as he advanced with the ball, he got a shot off from distance, but it went wide.

Having been on the pitch for just two minutes, DICKO managed to reduce the arrears when he met a cross from the right by Taylor-Fletcher to plant his header firmly past the slow motion dive of Paul Jones.

Posh boss Ferguson decided to make the first of two substitutions by bringing on Danny Kearns for the influential Lee Tomlin who had had a good game following his return from illness which had kept him out of the last two matches. He left the field to a standing ovation from the jubilant Posh fans.

If Blackpool thought they had a chance of nicking a draw after getting a goal back, they had other things coming as Posh increased their lead to two again as Tommy Rowe, who was having the game of his life at left back whilst threatening further up field as well, pulled the ball back to BOYD who made no mistake this time when powerfully shooting past Gilks.

Posh nearly made it four moments later when some more neat passing ended with Frecklington hitting a goalbound effort towards Gilks` bottom right hand corner of the net but the keeper made an outstanding save.

Four minutes of added time was played out without any threats to the Posh goal before raptuous cheers and applause greeted the final whistle.

67% possession and 23 shots at goal tells you the story of this match with Blackpool managing just 1 shot on target!! Hopefully this match marks the start of another good run which will see them cement their place in next seasons Championship.

The result keeps Posh in 18th place in the Championship but they are now 11 points clear of the relegation places. It was bad news for Blackpool though as they dropped out of the play-off places and now sit in 8th place and one point from the last play-off place. They have also played more games than all their rivals.

Full-time: Peterborough United 3 – 1 Blackpool

DON’T FORGET YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR MAN OF THE MATCH.

UP THE POSH!