Peterborough United v Scunthorpe United

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Football League One

Peterborough United :
Lewis, Martin, Westwood (Williams 46), Zakuani, Lee, Whelpdale, Keates, Coutts, Torres (Mackail-Smith 46), Boyd, McLean.
Subs not used:
McKeown, Green, Wright.

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Pearce, Mirfin, Mills (Wright 58), Lansbury (Sparrow 72), Togwell, McCann, Hurst, Hayes, Hooper (Odejayi 51).
Subs not used:
Lillis, Trotter.

OPPOSITION VIEW

WHAT a transformation. This was the footballing equivalent of exchanging a ticket for the Broadway, Peterborough, for one at Broadway, New York - misery and dejection were replaced by euphoria and triumph after a mere 15-minute interval.

Posh had been outclassed by slick Scunthorpe, whose 1-0 interval lead was scant reward for their domination, but Darren Ferguson's men finished the game so much on top the visitors staggered off the pitch looking like they'd been in Ebeneezers with Oliver Reed for the previous 10 hours.

Ferguson refused to take the credit for introducing Craig Mackail-Smith and Tommy Williams with great effect at the break, probably because he realised that it came 45 minutes later than necessary. But it's an undisputable fact that the substitutions, along with the 51st minute departure of injured Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper, changed the complexion of a fascinating contest.

Mackail-Smith netted the 86th minute winner from close range after impressive Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy had parried Charlie Lee's close range volley.

Williams had supplied the initial cross and it was also his perfect centre which Chris Whelpdale converted on 63 minutes to haul Posh level and start a most vicious onslaught on the visiting goal.

Murphy saved superbly when Aaron Mclean unleashed a volley from Whelpdale's clever head down, Lee headed a Paul Coutts corner on to the crossbar and Murphy slid out to deny George Boyd after Whelpdale had played him in on goal.

It was a frantic finale which eventually reached a thrilling climax as a late Posh winner was matched by MK Dons conceding an equaliser. The gap between Posh and their rivals for second spot is five points and widening by the match.

But few would have dared predict that outcome at the break. Even Ferguson drooled at the standard of Scunthorpe's play which their own manager described as 'breath-taking'.

On this evidence Hooper is a rival to Boyd as the best player in the division. The only surprise when his precise cut-back was converted by Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury was that it had taken 37 minutes for a goal to arrive.

Hooper and strike partner Paul Hayes were so good together even Gaby Zakuani floundered like a baby Ben Futcher. Zakuani and Lee produced last ditch tackles to thwart Hayes, while Posh keeper Joe Lewis twice saved splendidly from Hooper.

Posh couldn't get hold of the ball or keep it when they did. Mclean's sole opportunity of the first half arrived courtesy of David Mirfin's slip, but Murphy was on his toes to deflect the ball wide.

Ferguson was grateful to be only a goal down at half-time and his response was to take off Chris Westwood and Sergio Torres and replace them with pacier players. Lee moved to centre-back from left-back where he had struggled badly including a sloppy pass which ultimately led to Scunthorpe's goal.

Hooper could now be hassled in possession, but he soon went off with a groin strain and substitute Kayode Odejayi could neither chase balls nor hold them up as well as the 25-goal forward he replaced.

As a result Posh now dominated possession and fed balls consistently out wide where Williams and Whelpdale excelled.

Few teams would have lived with a Posh side playing at this tempo and with this amount of determination, although Scunthorpe did have two opportunities to claim second-half goals.

Hayes wasted one when drifting unnecessarily offside 20 minutes from time to ruin a two-on-one break and when Grant McCann's 94th minute free-kick sailed over the crossbar, the sighs of relief were audible for miles.

Posh fans, like the players, are now starting to share the belief that watching chairman Darragh MacAnthony has been expressing for most of the season.