Lessons To Learn, Positives To Take, But An Obvious Downside

With four new signings in the past few days, possibly May returning, was there cause for hope? Any realistic assessment would have been that with those incoming probably needing at least a little time to bed in, against opponents pressing for a top-two spot and on the back of a strong run of form, anything concrete out of the game would be a bonus. And that proved to be the case. We emerged with some lessons learnt, some positives for sure, but the obvious downside of no points and the implications for our chances of avoiding becoming embroiled in an outright battle against relegation.

The team did indeed contain May, but on the other side of the coin no Blackett-Taylor (slight injury was given as the reason but his absence has to increase speculation of a departure). Without CBT the way was open for a change in formation. Appleton went for a three centre-back pairing - but one not containing Hector (who it seems has picked up an injury), with Jones, Ness and Thomas in front of Maynard-Brewer, with Watson(T) and Edun to operate as wingbacks. Dobson was joined by debutant Bakinson in central midfield, with Campbell(C) returning from injury and lining up with Campbell(T) and May in a sort of front three. You could call it a 5-2-3, or a 5-4-1, even a 3-4-3 etc. On the bench Isted was able to return from injury, with his temporary replacement Walker having moved on. Asiimwe was the only obvious defensive replacement (with Elerewe not given a spot), Kanu the only alternative forward (Casey and Mbick not featuring), while for the midfield we would have Anderson, Watson(L), Coventry and Fiorini. Fair to say that reflected that we are still some way short of a balanced squad.

There are two ways to describe the first half: awful or a gameplan that failed to work. I prefer the latter as it was clear early on that Appleton was prioritising congesting key areas in the hope of nullifying their threat. And in some respects that worked. Peterborough were restricted to a few threatening moments, with both sides pressing and space at a premium. However, with our wing-backs pinned back, Campbell(T) having a poor game, getting regularly brushed off the ball, and Campbell(C) doing some good stuff but not in their final third, May remained isolated and we carried no attacking threat. We had zero attempts on goal in the first half. Oh, and the gameplan pretty much went up in smoke as they scored.

There had only been one serious direct threat before the goal, with a cross from their left seemingly on course to be headed home by an unmarked guy only for Maynard-Brewer to manage to palm it away. But before the half-hour another cross in from their left was touched back by a forward to their winger in space. He curled an excellent shot inside the far post. The replays showed that Jones had been tracking the scorer, only for the latter to drop a little deeper as the cross came in and for the former to stay in his position. Simple enough but it made the space and the finish produced the goal.

The only difference the goal made to play was that Peterborough felt even more comfortable with their set-up, content to dominate possession and easily snuff out any threat we might have posed. At the break the stats showed we had 34% possession and no attempts on goal, let alone anything on target. It was apparent to just about everyone that if we carried on as before they would score at least one more and run out comfortable winners. Seems that Appleton agreed as two changes were made at the break, both Campbells being withdrawn for Kanu and Watson(L), marking a switch from 5-2-3/3/4/3 to a more conventional 3-5-2.

Would that all such changes have the result these did, as within a few minutes of the second half – and after we had almost gifted Peterborough a second, Dobson playing a poor pass back under pressure and almost letting them in - we had drawn level with our first attempt on goal. Watson(L) took a chance on the edge of our box, not hoofing clear but holding the ball and passing to Dobson. He looked up and hit a long ball forward into the channel for Kanu to run on to down the left. He got to it and sent in a low cross. For a moment it seemed the chance had gone as their defender intercepted the cross. But he made rather a mess of it and it fell for Bakinson, who had run the length of the pitch. Somehow he managed not to score from close range, but thankfully the ball looped up for May to head in from about a yard, surely the easiest finish even he has ever had.

The game had changed, we now carried a real threat and caused panic in their defence, and through the second period both teams had good chances to score. The surprise was that only one of many chances was converted – and that a shot deflected in.

Not long after our equaliser Peterborough came as close as you can get. A break and they had numbers available. First shot was saved by Maynard-Brewer, the second produced another save, the third came back off the bar, and the fourth was put over the bar. Then a free kick for us resulted in a Thomas header saved low down – and it was clear that with the three centre-backs we did have a height advantage from set pieces. May almost chipped in from range with their keeper having come away from his goal, then some desperate defending as they broke down the right and Dobson failed in his attempt to take the guy out, resulting in some desperate defending to keep them out. Up the other end and Kanu was almost in, eventually getting off a shot that was saved.

The most obvious danger arising from our change of formation was getting caught out down the channels and with a little over 10 minutes of normal time left, just after Coventry had come on for his debut, replacing the understandably tiring Bakinson, we paid the price. The scorer of their first goal was starting to do a fair CBT impression of gathering the ball and cutting inside to open up the space for an attempt on goal. This time the replays showed Watson(L) high up the pitch supporting an attack and when it broke down only ambling back. He never did catch up with their guy. Instead Dobson, ever willing, came across to try to cover, only to end up diverting the guy’s shot into the net. The goal felt as deflatingly soft as Port Vale’s late equaliser.

The chances kept coming. May had a shot well saved, then Watson(L) had an effort palmed away at the last by their keeper; if his shot had been lower it surely would have been a goal. And from another free kick we really should have equalised as we had a free header from close range, only for Ness (I think) to try to square it for someone instead of going for goal.

That header was proved to be our last real opportunity to take a point. Fiorini came on for Dobson and in the final minutes – including seven of stoppage time – we were putting them under pressure. Just couldn’t fashion one more chance to take a point.

The lessons? The first-half formation didn’t work, clear to all. In particular Campbell(T) suffered by having to operate in an area where there was no space to be had. The 3-5-2 set-up, with Kanu full of energy and threat, was a different story. The lesson from their second goal was surely that the wing-backs have to get up and down quickly all the game, while as pointed out by CATV with three centre-backs surely one of them could have been covering for Watson(T)’s absence rather than Dobson.

The positives? Bakinson looked very good, in his use of the ball and ability to get up and down the pitch, especially for our goal. Coventry looked excellent, picking forward passes which pulled them apart. Fiorini looked rather rusty by comparison, but far too early to draw conclusions. He looks like a natural No.10, so how involved he is will depend on the formation we adopt. With another central defender added, the squad is now crying out for the additional centre-forward. Hopefully there will be movement on that front soon.

The obvious downside? Well, by definition it is obvious. We got no points. We are now very much looking down rather than up and at least avoiding defeat next time out away at Burton is if not a necessity then absolutely key. The gap to the bottom four is already down to seven points – and with two of those having a game in hand on us and on reasonable runs. Defeat at Burton and other results could see us slump in the league. There was enough yesterday to have faith that the new players will be hitting the ground running, but next time out Appleton will need to get the starting choices and the system right from the start.