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“We needed to up the intensity in the second half. In the first half we weren’t aggressive enough without the ball, but we were a lot better in the second half in that respect and have ended up winning quite comfortably.”
It’s the second game on the bounce that Darren Ferguson’s adjustments at half-time have seen Peterborough United go on and win the match. On Tuesday, the Posh struggled to deal with Gillingham’s direct approach in the first-half and trailed via a John Akinde penalty.
But Ferguson’s men emerged from the dressing room a totally different proposition and responded excellently to his ‘hairdryer’ treatment; leading the game just seven minutes later courtesy of Jonson Clarke-Harris, who later scored Peterborough’s third, and Siriki Dembele, who was brought on as a substitute at the break.
And Saturday’s meeting with AFC Wimbledon at the Western Homes Stadium started in very similar fashion.
Despite only being appointment permanent manager on Wednesday, Mark Robinson’s game plan was clear. Out of possession, Wimbledon alternated from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-1-2-3 to match up with Peterborough’s back three and midfield triangle to stop any advancements through down the middle. The Posh struggled to get to grips with the Dons’ press and resulted to playing fruitless passes around the back.
From the stands, Fergie urged his side to play it out wide to either Dan Butler or Joe Ward for Dembele and Sammie Szmodics to then run in the inside space, creating a 2v1 situation against the patrolling Alex Woodyard – former Posh captain – and tempt the opposition defenders to step out of line.
As half-time dawned with neither side producing a quality chance of note, it became obvious that the result would be decided by whoever won the midfield battle. Win possession, get players ahead of the ball, move it quickly and Posh would win. Keep hold of the ball, pin Posh back, find Joe Pigott and Wimbledon would win.
But just like midweek, the Posh were transformed at the interval. Immediately, the switch to the 4-2-3-1 enabled Posh to up the tempo and beat the press. The spare man in the build-up allowed Dembele, Szmodics, Clarke-Harris and Ward to flourish in the space in-behind and was the reason Posh scored two in such quick succession.
A slick move which culminated in Dembele slipping in Szmodics to slot home opened the scoring two minutes after the re-start. Four minutes later it was that man again; Nathan Thompson finding Szmodics on the right who fired low across goal and into the bottom corner to double Peterborough’s lead.
For the third, it was a case of right place, right time for Clarke-Harris. The initial shot from Ward was saved by Sam Walker only for the retreating Nesta Guinness-Walker to fire his clearance against the forward for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
It was a surprise to see Fergie start with three centre-backs and two wingbacks given how they came from behind to beat the Gills with a flat back four in the week. Yet the Posh have won the majority of their games at London Road playing with three at the back this season and is a reason why they hold the best home form in the division.
Fortress London Road
Posh’s home record since August 2019:
P31 W23 D5 L3 GF73 GA23 GD+50
Win rate = 74%@theposhofficial | #pufc
(? @photojoedent) pic.twitter.com/vsMZONb0gq
— Sam Edwards (@edwardssport) February 20, 2021
The Cambridgeshire club now sit in second; four points behind leaders Lincoln City and have two points on Hull City in third, six points on Doncaster Rovers in fourth, seven points on Portsmouth in fifth and eight points on Sunderland in sixth.
The Scot deserves plenty of credit for winning the last four games and spotting when change is needed. However, if his side continue to start poorly when faced with better opposition they might not find it so easy to recover.
With a trip to two month unbeaten Plymouth Argyle and then a visit from second-from-bottom Wigan Athletic, the Posh could round off February in style and cement their place in the title race.
Fail to win either and the points dropped could prove costly (or more importantly, the play-offs).
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