A lot of work to be done – Brentford 2 – 1 Peterborough United

Despite a first half penalty from Captain Grant McCann, Peterborough’s atrocious second half display continues The Posh’s travel sickness.

With no fresh injury or suspension worries, Peterborough boss Gary Johnson was able to name an unchanged starting eleven following last week’s 5-4 thrilling victory against Swindon. The game came too soon for midfielder James Wesolowski however having been out for several weeks with a knee injury, but took his place on the bench.

Andy Scott, also, named an unchanged starting eleven from their last league outing, a 3-0 away win at struggling Tranmere. Former Posh player Toumani Diagouraga (“Dave”) was named on the Bee’s substitute’s bench.

The Posh have had indifferent success on their travels so far this season to say the least, however, it was them who came out the blocks flying with attacking intent. Craig Mackail-Smith, looking for his 9^th league goal of the campaign, was played in on goal by a precise, neat flick by his strike partner Aaron Mclean, but his low drive was expertly diverted away from goal by Ben Hamer in the Brentford goal who was clearly awake in the first minute of the match.

The visitors are the top scorers in the league with 28 goals and were demonstrating why by pilling the pressure on the home side who found themselves in the relegation zone prior to kick off. George Boyd had a penalty claim turned down by the referee after appeals that the ball had struck the hand of Sam Wood. However, the visitors also have the most porous defence with 22 goals conceded and it was to no surprise that Brentford went straight up the other end of the pitch and threatened Joe Lewis in the Peterborough goal. Craig Woodman’s effort, unfortunately for the Bee’s, whistled over the bar.

The Posh were certainly the most dangerous team in the opening stages and, after a poor set piece by Grant McCann, Borough should have taken the lead. Michael Spillane, the Brentford full back, mistimed his clearance and the ball fell to Aaron Mclean well placed on the edge of the area but he could only succeed at blasting high and wide of the goal. He should have done better.

The home side were becoming to come into the game more and more and should have taken the lead themselves on 18 minutes when a neat centre by the ever threatening Michael Spillane was flicked on by Gary Alexander across the face of goal. Charlie MacDonald had lost his marker, Mark Little, and was just inches away from giving Brentford the lead in a game which was now becoming increasingly open.

At the other end, moments later, and the Posh were threatening again, this time with George Boyd. A confident run by the ex Stevenage man was brought to an end by the hand of Michael Spillane and the referee didn’t even need to listen to the protests from the Posh players or fans and pointed directly to the spot. Grant McCann, the master of all set pieces at Posh, strode up to take the penalty, but his effort was expertly saved by Ben Hamer down to his right. However, the assistant referee accused the former Reading ‘keeper of moving too early off his line and the spot kick had to be retaken. At the second time of asking GRANT MCCANN coolly slotted the ball into the opposite corner to give Peterborough the lead on 19 minutes.

Grant McCann scored from the spot, at the second time of asking

Just 4 minutes later Lewis was called into action as a cross by Woodman was cleared high in the sky which was met by ironic cheers from the visiting spectators. The cross deceived everyone and the former under 21 goalkeeper had to be alert to divert the ball over the bar as the ball looked certain to end up in the top corner of the Posh goal.

From this point on, the visitors were on the back foot. Brentford, who were a very direct, big and strong team, were always a threat from set pieces. On 25 minutes, an unchallenged header by defender Osborne was fired wide of the target before MacDonald was unlucky not to equalize from another well delivered free kick.

Gary Johnson’s men were looking to go in at half time with a one goal advantage, but the Brentford pressure proved to be far too much. On 40 minutes, Gabby Zakuani gave away a needless free kick. Consequently, CRAIG WOODMAN took the free kick which, from 25 yards, fired through a packed box before nestling in the bottom corner of Lewis’s goal. Lewis saw it late and stood no chance.

Woodman equalised with a curling free kick

Lewis was called into action once more just moments later as Charlie MacDonald took aim at the Posh goal, only to find Lewis on the top of his game to palm the ball away to safety. Just before the half time whistle arrived, Bretford could and should have had a penalty as Gabby Zakuani tackled unfairly on the lively MacDonald who fell to ground but the referee, and his assistant, didn’t agree and the sides went in at the interval on level terms.

Both sides struggled to maintain any sort of attacking rhythm as this uneventful beginning to second half proceedings set the tone for the remainder of the match. With neither side getting a hold on the ball nor the game, unsurprisingly it became increasingly scrappy as both teams were sporting a more direct approach to the game.

The unproductive Arron Davies was replaced on 56 minutes by Nath Mendez-Laing as Gary Johnson encouraged his men to attack and get at the Brentford defence. However, less than 60 seconds after his introduction, the home side took the lead for the first time in the match.  The ever threatening MacDonald nodded the ball across goal which was met by the powerful GARY ALEXANDER who beat his marker to head home. This was the former Millwall man’s 3^rd goal since joining from the Lions last summer.

Alexander headed a well deserved winner

It was clear that Posh were struggling, the defence in particular. The big figure of Gary Alexander was too much to bear for Kelvin Langmead whilst Gabby Zakuani is clearly struggling to replicate the form of the league one promotion campaign of two years ago.

It continued to be one way traffic as Lewis in the Posh goal was called into constant action. A smart save from the big ‘keeper from a long range Sam Wood effort atoned for his initial poor clearance, but he was called upon on several more occasions to deny a header from Spillane and a further close range effort from Gary Alexander. It wasn’t much better at the other end of the pitch as Mendez-Laing had had no effect after his introduction, whilst Mclean and Mackail-Smith were struggling to force an impact on the game. George Boyd meanwhile hasn’t been living up to his usual high standards and he was once again missing throughout this match.

On 68 minutes, the Bees should have killed off the game after Alexander, who was having an impressive second half, somehow missed a sitter at the back post after skilful play by wide man Miles Weston on the left wing. This miss left Posh’s chances of equalizing on a knife edge but, at least for the travelling fans, they were still in it. Up the other end and the scores should have been level. Langmead forced a good save from Ben Hamer following a Grant McCann corner but Hamer produced a stunning save afterwards to deny Aaron Mclean who blasted the ball towards goal. Hamer charged down the ball and prevented an equalizing goal with his face. Flattened on the floor for 5 minutes, he certainly felt the full force of the strike – much to the annoyance of the travelling Posh fans.

Brentford continued to dominate, mainly through a series of corners (they had 13 overall) as the Peterborough defence couldn’t clear their lines. As time ticked away, both Mclean and Boyd tried to test the keeper (who was obviously affected by his injury) but the efforts were tame and, even deep into stoppage time, the visitors couldn’t mount a charge on the Brentford goal.

The Posh fans turned up in their numbers today to see a confident performance from their side, sitting 2^nd in the table, against a team in the relegation zone. However, just like away at Hartlepool and Tranmere, Gary Johnson’s men have been undone by weaker opposition as they, yet again, failed to perform away from London Road. The tactics have got to change when on the road. Scoring a mere 8 goals whilst conceding 12 and losing 4 of the 7 away matches is simply not good enough if we are to seriously mount a title challenge. Question marks were again raised after another appalling defensive display today. A further worry from today’s performance was the total lack of attacking intent. Brentford’s long ball and direct style of play prevented any rhythm for the Posh going forward meaning Boyd in particular was absent. Complaining aside, Peterborough still find themselves up there, 3^rd in the league table and only out of the auto spots on goal difference. After their win today, Brighton extended their lead at the top of the table to 6 points which sets up a fascinating match at London Road next week for the visit of the league leaders.

Brentford: Hamer, O’Connor, Woodman, Bean, Macdonald (sub Grabban 61min), Spillane, Weston, Wood, Osborne, Alexander, Legge. Unused subs: McCracken, Forster, Hunt, Diagouraga, Simpson, Lee.

Posh: Lewis, Little, Rowe (sub Nana 72min), Langmead, Zakuani, Boyd, Frecklington (sub Wesolowski 64min), McCann, Davies (sub Mendez-Laing 56min), Mackail-Smith, Mclean. Unused subs: Collis, Lee, Hibbert, Bennett.

Attendance: 6,543 (1,149 Posh fans)