It was the trip down south to Peterborough and time to sample standing, the closest I would get to the Holgate end at Ayresome Park I guess and another new ground for me to tick off the list. The Moy End Terrace was filling up as we approached kick off with another great following of over 2,300 making the trip.
In the first half we kept the ball in the final third of the pitch for large spells without really causing too many problems for Peterborough. McDonald had our best chance of the half and he really should have done better with a fine ball through from Joe Bennett. Level at the break, Robson was the stand out player for me trying to drive the team on make things happen with his determined forward runs.
Second half we took the lead early on through a corner and a great thumping header by our captain Matthew Bates, Get in! The whole Boro team celebrated with us as the away end went wild. We were in full control of the game until around the 60th minute when the team started going deeper as Peterborough changed there formation to three up front.
Steele made a good save with his legs from a George Boyd shot. I thought we had done enough to hang on to the win. With 10 minutes to go we failed to clear our lines and Peterborough player Taylor hit a strike which flew into the net. A great goal it has to be said!
With 10 minutes left plus injury time we had another chance to go back in the lead. McManus had a great header, I felt he directed it to the wrong side and it went wide. Nimely on as sub had a chance to shoot and opted to square it to Haroun and the opportunity was gone. The game came to an end finishing all square, with all that possession we really should have won the game but possession counts for nothing if you don’t put your chances away and kill teams off. Both our forwards had poor games Emnes maybe still be carrying the ankle injury that stopped him training leading up to game.
The team didn’t have anywhere near as many clear cut chances as we did at Blackpool and didn’t make their keeper work hard enough. As a team when our chances come along we must be more clinical and not snatch at chances, sometimes there is time to take that extra touch.
We are drawing a lot of games and chasing wins late on in games I just wonder if we pressed teams for the majority game would we tire for last 15 minutes of the game? Saying that in most games we have had more than enough chances to put the game to bed quite comfortably.
It’s great still to be were we are in the playoffs, though wouldn’t it be great to beat the hammers at home and narrow that gap at the top. There’s plenty of football still to be played and lots of twists and turns yet to come. Come on Boro!
