Only thought ahead of yesterday’s game was ‘can we just keep this going’? Post another three points and see how the other results fall. But this was never going to be a ‘gimme’. It was only in February that we needed a last-gasp Gillesphey header to win the game at The Valley; and since then Peterborough have got their act together to steer clear of the relegation zone, with three wins and three draws in their last six, more the sort of form that most expected from them through the season. Against that, perhaps, just perhaps, they might feel they had done their job, safe for another season in League One – and with a Wembley game in April to look forward to, no sense in risking injury.
Fat chance. We came a cropper in this one, much as we had done at Rotherham and even with a repeat of the frailties in evidence against Wigan, this time more costly due to the quality of the opposition. And with hindsight tactically we played into their hands. I’ve no doubt the game would have turned out very different if we had scored first, which for the first 30 minutes or so was entirely possible, in an open game in which both sides were dangerous going forward. But we didn’t, conceded a goal as a result of a string of errors, compounded the error by getting caught on the break for a second before half-time. Then in the second, having come close to getting the goal back which might again have changed things, were carved open several times as we chased the game. Their third was no surprise and ended the game as a contest.
Ahead of the game there was again a little uncertainty over the team as we didn’t know if Edwards would be ready to return. Seems he wasn’t as Jones announced an unchanged starting XI, which meant Watson retained as the right-side wing-back and Small staying on the left. The changes came on the bench as new signing (one that escaped me, but veteran Australian keeper) Bouzanis replaced Reid as Mannion’s back-up, while Gilbert and Aneke were back among the subs, Mitchell and an apparently injured Leaburn dropping out of the squad, with Enslin keeping his place. A little surprising to have only McIntyre as a defensive replacement but three midfield options (Enslin, Anderson and Gilbert), but there you go.
Again, the opening 30 minutes were entertaining and with half-chances at both ends it was anyone’s game. We seemed to be dominant and winning most individual battles, but at the same time they found space every time they attacked and with more composure might easily have scored one or two. Early on a Jones header did come back off the bar, then a long ball from Gillesphey found Berry, who headed down for Godden only for the defender to get there first, and after that Coventry chipped to the far post and Docherty just failed to convert it. Our press was leading to any number of interceptions, keeping them on the back foot. Campbell cut inside only for his shot to be saved, then he squared for Berry, only for his shot to be saved. Watson nodded back a cross which Godden then couldn’t quite get on the end of.
All promising, but we didn’t actually score, while Peterborough gave a few indications that when they broke the were a real threat. And on 35 minutes the game changed, for the worse. Gillesphey made a mess of taking the ball forward and was dispossessed. The ball in fell to Ramsay facing his own goal and with uncertainty over whether he should pass it back, shield it for Mannion, or just hoof it anywhere to clear the lines. That last option was the one surely he should have taken. Instead, with it clear that Mannion was going to get there, he passed it back. Mannion, inexplicably, had gone to ground and could only embarrassingly gather the ball, giving the referee no option other than to give an indirect free kick inside the area for a back pass. Each of Gillesphey, Ramsay and Mannion has to take a share of the blame.
The free-kick understandably saw a wall of every Charlton player ready to try to block the shot after the tap, which it did. But the ball wasn’t truly cleared and with so many players around we were still in a state of confusion as the ball was played back in the air to the left side. Their guy read it well and moved onto it, to rise unchallenged to head beyond Mannion into the net, with Watson adding his name to the culpable by failing to get in a challenge let alone head clear.
We might have levelled things up. Campbell got to the byline and pulled it back only for Berry to shoot over with Docherty behind him probably in a better position. Then Campbell played in Small on the right (he and Watson having switched sides after the goal). He went on the outside only for his decent shot to be saved. Instead we were sucker punched. From our corner a simple, quick break had us scrambling back. Odoh received it on their left and faced with Coventry was able to turn inside and curl one into the far corner of the net. All entirely planned from their perspective, horrible from ours.
At the break we had had nine efforts on goal to their five. Both sides had two on target, with one obvious difference. And we had a mountain to climb.
OK, but we also knew that if we could get one back the picture would change again. A Small cross to the far post just evaded everyone, as did a low cross from Watson. The a long ball from Gillesphey dropped for Berry around the edge of the box and he tried to chip the keeper on the volley. It might have been goal of the season, but went over the bar. Then we had another warning as Peterborough broke and it all opened up again for them, only for their guy to curl his shot over the bar.
On 54 minutes Aneke was introduced for Watson, which meant a change to 4-4-2, Ramsay and Small the full-backs. And almost immediately he headed over at the far post. However, the change in formation left us even more stretched at the back, and over the next 20 minutes Peterborough had some gilt-edged opportunities to make the game safe. From a squared ball their guy shot hopelessly over, then another was in at the far post only for Mannion to save with his feet. We made more changes on 68 minutes, with Gilbert and McIntyre on for Berry and Godden, but the Peterborough chances kept coming.
Finally on 78 minutes it was three. Campbell gave the ball away and yet again they had numbers over going forward. This time it was played wide and the guy pulled it back across goal to another unmarked. This time the ball was put into the net. And that was that. Ahadme and Anderson came on for Campbell and Coventry, but that looked more like resting players for another day, as this one was lost.
So, what went wrong and what can we learn? First, there is an element of just taking it on the chin and moving on. For the most part we hadn’t played badly in possession and with 25 efforts on goal to lose 3-0 is harsh. The way we play carries an element of risk. We came unstuck at Rotherham and again, even in a game in which we were dominant, against Wigan, they had chances on the break before converting one. I’ve no doubt that earlier in the season we would have gone to Peterborough and played it tight, kept men behind the ball and denied them space, looking to nick one at the other end. But now we play differently and look more to go toe-to-toe. Sometimes you will pay for that. You might say that with hindsight we didn’t pay Peterborough enough respect by doing nothing to try to nullify their strengths.
Second, yesterday we did miss Edwards. Defensively Small on the left side is not like-for-like. Equally, as I thought was apparent against Wigan, playing Small on the left doesn’t work as well as on the right, since Campbell is naturally inclined to move wide left, occupying the space that Small needs. So we were weakened defensively and as an attacking force, which is not to say that Watson has played badly in his two games (his part in Peterborough’s first notwithstanding). I hope Edwards is back, fit and raring to go, for Huddersfield.
Third, although we had 25 attempts on goal, with one back off the bar, you can’t say any of them were more than half-chances. We didn’t manage either to create an opening where you look back and say the guy should have scored, or to convert one or more of the opportunities. We look to Godden to get on the end of things and he didn’t quite manage that yesterday, nor did any of the others. I’m a big fan of Godden, but the overall lack of cutting edge in the final third was in evidence yesterday.
Fourth, it was a game that should give Jones pause for thought if and when it comes to the challenge of the play-offs (when keeping a clean sheet is usually paramount). Sometimes you do have to look at the opposition and make slight adjustments. Peterborough had scored more goals than us this season even before yesterday, so we had to be much sharper and aware of the danger on the counter. That starts with stopping the keeper from making a quick clearance, extends to accepting sometimes taking one for the team with a foul early in the break (Jones did that early in the game), and also covers looking at how often Coventry ended up as the last man. We know we want to have a real threat from our set pieces, but we can’t expect the opposition to give us the time to adjust if they don’t work out.
Fifth, and not unrelated, Peterborough were quite content to leave players forward when we had corners and free-kicks. We have Campbell and Small, both blessed with pace and the ability to run with the ball. Is it too much to ask to have at least one of them left on the half-way line, on a side which the rest of the team know and can look to feed them? It would force the opposition to change their plans.
Of course we’re disappointed to have lost the game (badly) and given the impact it has on our already slim chances of securing automatic promotion. Any of those thoughts now go out of the window, we just concentrate on the next game and see after it if any fresh opening has arisen. Next Saturday, while we take on Huddersfield, Wrexham and Wycombe face Exeter and Lincoln respectively, a combination of games which doesn’t exactly point to a narrowing of the gap. So be it. If you want a positive slant, often a team which strives for automatic promotion and just misses out isn’t best prepared for the play-offs. If we have more time than others to get ourselves prepared for that challenge it might work to our advantage – although the way we play doesn’t leave room for taking our foot off the pedal. Just beat Huddersfield and see what happens.
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