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Tomlin saves the day – Leicester City 1-1 Peterborough United

There is some sort of unwritten rule in football that means players will always make an impact to a game when they are returning to their former club. Today it was Lee Tomlin’s turn to make a name for himself by rescuing a goal and a point for Posh as he made his return to his former stomping ground, the King Power stadium.

It’s fair to say that since making a move to London Road last summer Tomlin has had somewhat of a bumpy ride at Peterborough. Playing a pivotal part to Posh’s promotion push last season Tomlin hasn’t always been a fan’s favourite. Most recently Tomlin entered the bad books when he was sent off in the match against Leeds United back in October but won back that respect by apologising to the fans and putting in some incredible performances since returning from suspension. And hey who doesn’t like a bad boy?

Ferguson has always said that he rates Tomlin and now we can see why as he returns back to London Road the hero.

Rivalry between these two local teams has been high since the two sides battled it out for the League one title back in the 2008-09 season. This was a battle that Leicester eventually won and since then it has been the Foxes who have had the better form although this season things haven’t exactly gone to plan for the big spending side prompting Nigel Pearson to make a return to the club replacing the formidable Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Darren Ferguson was forced to make one change to his side with Tommy Rowe coming in to replace the ineligible Tom Kennedy who is on-loan from Leicester. This meant Ferguson was down to only 16 fit first team players but luckily that’s all you need.

It would come to no surprise that it was Leicester who had the majority of possession and chances in the first half with David Nugent, Andy King and Lloyd Dyer all taking turns to test Lewis. However what could come as a surprise is that Posh defended strongly, Craig Alcock the man who shone the most clearing the ball off the line and penning Dyer back at every opportunity.

Posh were struggling to maintain the Foxes so switched from their specialist diamond formation to the more traditional 4-4-2 line-up.

At the other end Paul Taylor made the most of a poor back pass by Sol Bamba although Kasper Schmeichal was on top form to get a hand to the shot.

Thankfully luck was also on Posh’s side as the prolific Jermaine Beckford smashed a shot against the inside on the post on 38 minutes but this rebounded to safety.

Next up it was Lewis’s chance to show why he is the new favoured number one shot stopper  by superbly saving a Nugent header in first-half stoppage time.

Going into the second half Posh made the one change with Ryan Tunnicliffe coming on to replace Taylor giving Tomlin the opportunity to push up to partner Emile Sinclair.

Perhaps rather unfairly Leicester finally managed to break the deadlock on 56 minutes when a Paul Gallagher shot went in off the near up-right with Posh down to only 10 men after Grant McCann was off the field of play receiving treatment. Moments later McCann was replaced by Daniel Kearns.

Posh were dropping like flies and on 69 minutes an injured Lee Frecklington was replaced by the young Joe Newell. Just a minute later Posh were back on level terms after a promising spell of possession led to Emile Sinclair making an inch-perfect cross which was met by the head of Tomlin.

Once Posh get that one goal they always grow in confidence and today was no different as Posh were now on the front foot and pushing forward strongly. Only a scrappy Bamba challenge could end a powerful Sinclair run on 72 minutes.

Leicester weren’t happy and made a double switch with Jeff Schlupp and Steve Howards coming on to replace Nugent and Beckford but still the Foxes couldn’t get a winner. It was Posh who almost did bag the winner on 85 minutes when a line of players had a go at scrambling the ball across the line but Schmeichal stood strong.

That priceless point sees Posh drop down one more place to 17th still only five points from the drop zone. Christmas will be an important time at London Road.

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