Resilient Posh beaten by table toppers Newcastle
Resilient Posh beaten by table toppers Newcastle
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Newcastle move to within a point of a return to the top flight, after coming from behind to beat Posh at London Road.Outgoing Peterborough manager, Jim Gannon, made four changes from the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bristol City last weekend by bringing in Kerrea Gilbert, Sergio Torres, Liam Dickinson and Dominic Green. Josh Simpson and Craig Mackail Smith were subsequently reduced to the bench whilst Chris Whelpdale mi sed the match through injury and youngster Nathan Koranteng wasnt in the squad at all.Knowing that a Newcastle win and a Nottingham Forest defeat would result in confirmation of the Magpies being automatically promoted to the Premiership, Toon bo s Chris Hughton made five changes to the starting eleven. Experienced men Shola Ameobi, Joey Barton and Alan Smith were added to the squad with winger Fabrice Pancrate and recent signing Leon Best also finding a rare start. As a result, Jonas Gutierrez, Wayne Routledge and Peter Lovenkrands were selected on the bench to make way for them. Andrew Carroll and Danny Guthrie bothmi sed the tie through injury.With the threat of facing relegation on the same day the travelling Toon Army could celebrate Marco Wilson Jersey promotion, the Posh faithful were in search of a mini miracle if they were to overcome arguably the biggest club in the Championship. It was, however, the home side that made the brighter start with a nice interchanges of pa sing being played. The first effort of the game was from Dom Green from a speculative 25 yards which was no problem for visiting keeper, Steve Harper, collecting the ball at the second attempt.With Posh starting the game in solid fashion, holding firm at the back and creating space going forward, the opening stages were sedate but the deadlock was broken on 11 minutes. After a long ball forward, Argentine Fabricio Coloccini and keeper Steve Harper got themselves in a mix up, both leaving the ball for each other. A moment of confusion resulted in Harper fluffing his clearance straight to the feet of DOMINIC GREEN who, with his weaker right foot, delicately chipped the ball over both the keepers head and Williamsons head and into the back of the net to the delight of the home fans.The Newcastle defence was at sixs and sevens and Posh should have doubled their advantage moments later after Tommy Rowe managed to flick the ball into the path of Sergio Torres who fired horribly high and wide from 12 yards.In a much midfielder dominated game, the travelling Geordies had their first effort on goal but Kevin Nolan was denied by a great save from Posh keeper Joe Lewis after the former Bolton Wanderers man had skipped away from two blue shirted challenges.On the half hour mark, Sergio Torres again had another chance, this time pulling away from his marker and firing with his right foot just wide of the far post. Newcastle simply hadnt turned up yet and was finding it a struggle to produce the fine, fast flowing football that had taken them to the top of the table, this Championship season.Just moments later, up the other end, Leon Best was appealing for a penalty after copyright Geohaghon clumsily challenged the former Coventry City attacker. Referee Mr Hayward doesnt agree with the protests and allows play to be continued.With the first half coming to a close, front man Liam Dickinson saw a cheeky lob from 40 yards fly over Harpers bar. Posh should have scored a second moments later with Tommy Rowe playing a delicate, well disguised cro s into the path of Lee Frecklington who had a great chance to score but Enrique was on hand to swipe clear the danger. Charlie Lee then saw his glancing header froma long Geohaghon throw tipped over by the ever present Steve Harper.Just before half time, in stoppage time, the travelling Geordie fans were dancing in jubilation as an Enrique cro s somehow evaded the Posh defence and keeper and the ball was finally bundled over the line by the on rushing KEVIN NOLAN to level the scores. Undeservedly, Newcastle had rescued the first half and the teams went in to the half time breakon level terms.Posh made two changes at the break with Mackail-Smith and Simpson coming on for Green and Torres respectively. The Magpies also made a change with Wayne Routledge being introduced in place of Pancrate.Newcastle started the second half the way they had finished the Aeneas Williams Jersey first, on top. Gabriel Zakuani was cautioned for a foul on Ameobi after he had gone on a mazy run. From the resulting free kick, JOEY BARTON found the net with his free kick looping round the net and into the bottom corner of Joe Lewiss net. The delight was clear to see on the faces of the travelling Toon Army as the stewards struggled to hold them back.The away team were managing to sustain their momentum and were still pushing forward for more. Irish international Leon Best came close, dragging his left footed effort inches wide from 14 yards after being played through by Barton.The pre sure proved to be too much for the hosts as, on the hour mark, SHOLA AMEOBI had a fiery shot from 25 yards that whistled pa sed Joe Lewis and into the net after clipping the base of the post for his 10th goal of the season.There was no rest bite for the hosts as Newcastle came at them again. This time, Leon Best did well down the right hand side beating big man copyright Geohaghon before shooting from an acute angle, only to see his effort expertly diverted over the cro s bar by Lewis.Despite having Mackail-Smith on the pitch, the Poshs only real threat was from set pieces as, from a corner, Ryan Bennett, who was making his return from injury, had a headed effort cleared off the line by Danny Simpson. Just a minute later however, an copyright Geohaghon long throw was met at the back stick by LIAM DICKINSON who powered the ball into the back of the net.Posh ended the game positively creating all the chances. However, the Newcastle defence, including internationals such as Coloccini and Enrique, remained strong. Dickinson had two and Frecklington had one headed effort that whistled over the bar. The home side kept pre sing, but to no avail.Newcastle, who clearly po ses Premiership quality, remain top of the Devon Kennard Jersey Championship table and require just one point from their remaining six games to secure promotion. They can do the nece sary at home to Sheffield United on Easter Monday in front of their own fans. The Posh however can be relegated on Easter Monday if they fail to win away at Barnsley, at Oakwell.Everyone connected with Peterborough United will be encouraged and pleased by this performance against one of the best teams in this division, despite the result. There is no doubt that the Peterborough bound Gary Johnson, who was in the stands today watching, will also be encouraged by what he witne sed.Posh: Lewis, Gilbert, Zakuani, Lee (sub Bennett 55min), Dickinson, Frecklington, Rowe, Torres (sub Mackail-Smith 46min), Green (sub Simpson 46min), Griffiths, Geohaghon. Unused subs: McKeown, Day, Mills, Reid.Newcastle United: Harper, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan, Williamson, Barton (sub Guitierrez 87min), Simpson, Smith, Best, Pancrate (sub Routledge 46min), Ameobi (sub Butt 84min). Unused subs: Lovenkrands, Taylor, Krul, Kadar.Attendance: 12,877 (4,107 Newcastle fans)
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