That’s The 100% Home Record Gone – Peterborough United 2-3 Notts County.

A feisty encounter, which saw both sides reduced to ten men, saw Notts County get their first away victory of the season.

Gary Johnson, on his birthday, named an unchanged side from the weekend’s fixture against MK Dons. Craig Short made changes to his side though with Rob Burch starting in goal, Kevin Smith was also brought into the starting line-up, playing the attacking midfield role in Notts County’s 4-5-1 system.

It was clear from the start that Short has set his team out to frustrate the home crowd and players and the visitors began the time-wasting right from kick-off; it was a theme that would continue throughout the match. Lee Tomlin did his best to fire Posh into the lead with an ambitious effort but his powerful shot went just wide of Burch’s far post.

The game was quiet now and very little action took place inside the first quarter of the match. Posh were struggling to break down the visitor’s resistance whilst Notts County were continuing to help their physio’s fitness levels by feigning injury over the slightest tackle.

Matt Gill then picked up a yellow card for a rash tackle on Richard Ravenhill, who did not help Gill’s case staying down until the referee brandished the card and then miraculously recovering. It was a sign of Posh’s frustration at not being able to break down the well organised visitor’s defence.

Posh’s collapse started just after the half-hour mark though. When a deep cross was put into the area there were not many Notts County players inside the box but Whelpdale, who had the opportunity to clear, completely miss-kicked his clearance to BEN DAVIES who simply blasted the ball beyond Lewis from close range.

Ben Davies inspired Notts County’s victory.

It wasn’t long before the hosts were two goals behind. Neal Bishop won the ball well in the midfield and slotted the ball into BEN DAVIES who produced a stunning finish, curling the ball beyond Lewis and into the corner of the goal. Grant McCann was the guilty party this time after he slipped at a crucial moment to allow Bishop to easily gain possession of the ball and set up Davies for his second of the match.

It was a familiar position for Peterborough United to be in and they had turned round a two goal deficit twice before this season at London Road but the first half performance was a lot different this time. There was little passing ability being shown, the hosts hadn’t threatened going forward and the tempo of Posh’s game was awful, partly due to Notts County’s tactics admittedly.

McCann, who had looked off the pace so far, was then offered the opportunity of a free-kick in a dangerous position and, as always, his delivery was exquisite putting in a deep cross that was headed home powerfully by GABRIEL ZAKUANI. This gave the home fans hope that ‘The Posh’ could mount another stunning comeback.

Zakuani has been on good form recently.

Kelvin Langmead had the chance to level things up but his header was poor and went wide of Burch’s near post. Tomlin then fired wide, from long-range, moments later as Peterborough seemed to be starting to increase the pressure on the visitors.

It was the away side that would take their game up a gear though after staving off a few Posh attacks and when Alan Judge was given too much space by Chris Whelpdale his shot tested Lewis in the Peterborough United goal. The warnings signs were there for Peterborough that ‘County’ could score again.

The visitors then thought they had increased their lead with a well worked move that resulted in a Kevin Smith tapping the ball in from close range. However, the linesman felt that Smith has made his run from an offside position and it was ruled out. Although from the resulting free-kick Notts County would extend their lead. When Lewis’ kick dropped on McCann’s foot the Northern Irish midfielder tried an extravagant flick that resulted in Posh losing possession and it was all very simply for County after that. A simple pass over the top of Gabriel Zakuani meant that CRAIG WESTCARR was given space and he finished well.

Craig Westcarr’s finish was excellent.

Johnson clearly wasn’t happy with Posh’s first half performance, he had every right to be angry too, and made two changes at the start of the second half with Charlie Lee replacing Matthew Gill, who had been completely anonymous and Mark Little coming on for Chris Whelpdale who had been exposed in an un-natural position.

Notts County, obviously told to increase their time-wasting by manager Craig Short at half-time, followed their manager’s instructions and the game was very stop-start, stopping Peterborough from gaining any sort of momentum.

Tommy Rowe almost scored a fantastic goal after hitting a dipping volley from 25 yards but it cannoned back off the cross-bar and away to safety. After this it felt like it wasn’t to be Posh’s day and that it would take a moment of brilliance to inspire a comeback.

The home side did manage to pull a goal back though after Grant McCann’s free-kick, which looked somewhat miss-hit, dipped and fell to CRAIG MACKAIL-SMITH, who was the only player on the pitch that appeared to react to the situation, and he finished well from a tight angle.

Craig Mackail-Smith grabbed his eigth goal of the season.

After being at fault for two goals but still managing to grab a couple of assists McCann was having a mixed game but the Peterborough United captain arguably cost Posh any chance of gaining three points. He lunged into an awful tackle which sparked a mass-brawl and resulted in McCann getting sent-off. Richard Ravenhill and Aaron McLean were also booked for their involvement but, from the stands, it was very hard to notice what they had done wrong through a crowd of bodies.

Moments later both sides should have been reduced to ten men however. Ravenhill, who was already on a booking, was guilty of bringing Mackail-Smith down with a cynical shirt tug after he had escaped past the Notts County back-line, in truth he would have been lucky to not have seen a straight red but the foul certainly warranted a yellow. However, the referee after speaking with his assistant, decided that Ravenhill would escape unpunished.

The visitors now were up to their usual antics more so than ever before; throwing themselves on the floor, kicking the ball away, standing in-front of Posh free-kicks, not retreating for ten yards when the hosts had a set-piece and ultimately completely stopping any flow to the game. The hapless referee though was not reacting to this and seemingly allowed Notts County to apply this behaviour, which was frustrating to all the home players, management and support, although he did warn Burch four times for time-wasting, perhaps Mr. Woolmer would have brandished a card on the fifth time but I highly doubt it.

Notts County were reduced to ten men in added time when the referee finally seemed to be stamping down on the away side’s time-wasting, brandishing three yellows and a red card (to Ravenhill) when it was too late to have any effect on the game, but Posh couldn’t create any chances of note and Notts County secured three points.

The action wasn’t finished at the final whistle though and both sides were fighting once again, this time management staff and players were involved and ugly scenes followed. It was eventually split up but both sides will no doubt be reprimanded by the F.A for failing to control their players.

It was a shame to lose in that manner but Notts County’s tactics, and the way the referee dealt with them, had some part to blame. Craig Short had clearly set his side out to, effectively, cheat their way to a draw but he would have been counting his lucky stars when they grabbed three points. It again brings up the debate whether those type of tactics is what fans want to watch but with the added pressure of football management as long as it is effective it will continue to be used.

Craig Short’s tactics were effective but certainly not entertaining.

Some blame most lie on our own team though. Grant McCann was idiotic in this tackle; not the behaviour expected from a captain and we shouldn’t have lost our discipline. Had we of kept it we may have got something out of the game.

It is again worrying that we are leaking goals, we simply can’t give teams a head-start, and Notts County came to defend yet managed to score three times. We are also developing a worrying trait that means we struggle against teams that set out to frustrate us; both Tranmere and Notts County have deployed those tactics and both have beaten us. We must find a way to scrap to victory and keep clean-sheets otherwise we will not achieve automatic promotion.

Still, we have started the season impressively and beforethis campaign had started most would have been delighted with four home wins from five games, especially looking at the calibre of the teams we have had to face in the earlier stages of the season. We are still within touching distance of top of the league and have shown many signs of promise. It’s not been a perfect start but this result doesn’t make it a disastrous one either.

Attendance: 6,136 (675 away fans)

Notts County: Burch, Thompson, Pearce, Edwards, Harley, Westcarr (Spicer, 78), Ravenhill, Bishop, Davies, Judge (Jervis, 90), Smith (Hawley, 63)

Peterborough United Player Ratings

Joe Lewis, 5 – Partly at fault for the first goal and a poor kick out for the third, even if McCann should have done better. Didn’t stand much chance with the other goal.

Chris Whelpdale, 3 – He’s not a right back and can’t defend. At fault for the first and was caught backing off his marker too many times. Substituted at half-time for Mark Little (5)

Gabriel Zakuani, 7 – Limping at the end but still managed to pull off an outstanding block and scored Posh’s first with a good header.

Kelvin Langmead, 6 – A solid, rather than spectacular, performance.

Tommy Rowe, 6 – Unlucky not to score. Limping towards the end of the game and defensively was shown up on a couple of occasions.

Lee Tomlin, 7 – A constant threat but didn’t have much in the way of service. He is making the step up with ease and is looking an impressive talent. Substituted for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 88^th minute

Grant McCann, 2 – Stupidly sent off and at fault for two goals that Posh conceded.

Matthew Gill, 3 – Pretty much anonymous in his time on the pitch. Substituted for Charlie Lee at half-time (5)

George Boyd, 4 – Isn’t playing anywhere near to his usual standards at the minute.

Aaron McLean, 6 – Didn’t do much in-front of goal but put in a lot of effort.

Craig Mackail-Smith, 7 – Tireless effort meant that he deserved his goal. Looked a forlorn figure at the end.