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Peterborough Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 04/09/2003

FOLLOWING last week’s defeat to the red side of Bristol, the Mariners will be eager to get back on track with a victory against a gloriously inconsistent Peterborough United side, who travel to Blundell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Home > 2003-2004 Season > Previews > Peterborough (h)


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TownPeterborough
DBristol City(a)0-1
WWycombe(a)3-1
WLuton(a)2-1
LPort Vale(h)1-2
LDoncaster(a)2-3
LStockport(h)1-2
WNotts County(a)1-0
LSheff Wed(h)1-0
WBrentford(a)3-0
LCoventry (Cup)(a)2-0

Peterborough have had a typically inconsistent start to their season, in which they have failed to draw a match, which in itself, tells its own story. The Posh were dire at home to Stockport last week but recorded an impressive 3-0 win at Brentford just a few weeks earlier. Instrumental again this season has been last year’s top scorer Andy Clarke, who netted 19 goals for the London Road team last term, he has got four goals already this season.

Top Scorers

 

TownPeterborough
Boulding4
Anderson3
Clarke4
Arber2

Peterborough Facts

Last Season
11th in Division Two. Yet another season of mid table obscurity last season for the Posh, and yet another season of the same looms large. Since their promotion from the third division a few years ago, Posh have finished 11th twice, 17th and 12th in the second division, and the fans are starting to loose patience.

Manager
Barry Fry. Stereotyped as a "character of football" by many, which is partly true because he is reasonably amusing, but it is also true that he is a bit of a clown. Many Posh fans cannot wait to see the back of Fry, but his exit seems a long way off, as he now owns part of the club! Peterborough are under-achieving in this division and a good season for the club this year would certainly give Fry and the fans a much needed boost.

Top Players
Andy Clarke (left). 36 year old striker who has shown that he can still hack it in the football league when he scored 19 goals for ‘Boro last season . Formerly of Barnet and Wimbledon, Clarke was re-united with manager Barry Fry when he joined the club in May 1999.

Andy Legg Another veteran who joined Posh in the summer in a player/coach role. Helped Cardiff to promotion last season, and has played for a host of league clubs including Notts County, Birmingham, Reading and Swansea.

Mark Tyler. One of the most important players for the Posh, Tyler has been with Peterborough since 1994 and is due a testimonial next year. A fans favourite, Tyler is a superb shot stopper and is one of the best in the football league.

Team News

 

TownPeterborough

  • The Mariners will welcome back winger Marcel Cas after serving a one match ban, and he will go straight back into the starting eleven on the right side of midfield.

  • The bad news for Town is that Darren Barnard will miss out as he is away with Wales in Italy. This means that Jason Crowe will probably slot in at left back with captain John McDermott retaining his right back berth.

  • Unless a new striker is signed by Saturday (which Paul Groves concedes is "unlikely", then Michael Boulding will resume up front with Jonny Rowan. Laurens Ten Heuvel will be on the bench in what will be his last game for the Mariners.

  • Elsewhere, Town boss Paul Groves can make few other changes because of a sheer lack of numbers. Iain Anderson is injured and suspended, Des Hamilton is banned, whilst Darren Mansaram, Alan Pouton and Stacy Coldicott are still on the treatment table.

  • Phil Jevons is now fit again and, in theory, available for selection, but needs to sort out his differences with the board before that will happen.
  • Former Ajax defender Christopher Kanu is suspended for Perterborough so will miss out. Similarly, defender Sagi Burton is also out for up to six weeks leaving boss Barry Fry with only two experienced centre backs. The former Barnet boss likes to play 3-5-2 away from home, so is hoping that he can bring in a new face or he may be forced to change formation.

  • Tony Shields is struggling with a thigh injury, which could rule him out. This means that there could be places in the starting eleven for non contract midfielder Tony Scully, who impressed for the reserves in midweek, and also young defender Sean St. Ledger.

  • Fry is also trying to extend the loan of Reading youngster Andre Boucaud. His loan deal expired after last week’s game with Stockport and Fry has made it no secret that he intends to keep the youngster. If he does sign in time, he could replace injury victim Tony Shields.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownPeterborough
    Aidan Davison
    John McDermott
    Jason Crowe
    Tony Crane
    Simon Ford
    Marcel Cas
    Chris Bolder
    Paul Groves
    Stuart Campbell
    Michael Boulding
    Jonathan Rowan
    Mark Tyler
    Andre Boucaud
    Simon Rea
    Andy Legg
    Sean St.Ledger
    Mark Arber
    Adam Newton
    Matthew Gill
    David Farrell
    Leon McKenzie
    Andy Clarke

    Subs

     

    TownPeterborough
    Mike Edwards
    Graham Hockless
    Laurens Ten Heuvel
    Wes Parker
    Andy Pettinger (GK)
    Tony Scully
    Francis Green
    Gareth Jelleyman
    Andrew Fotiadis
    Jamie Day

    On This Day

    6th September 1987

  • A Grimsby Town side, managed by Mike Lyons, won their first game of the 1987/88 season in a 1-0 victory against Brighton on this day. Gordon Hobson grabbed the Grimsby goal, one of his last before he moved to Southampton that November.
  • Peterborough United, meanwhile, drew 1-1 at home to Aldershot in front of a lowly 2,797 crowd at London Road. The goalscorer that day was David Gregory. Playing for them between the sticks later in that season was non other than ex Town stopper Paul Crichton.

  • Last Time Out

    The last time Town met Peterborough was way back in the 1993/94 season when in March, Town beat the Posh 3-2 in an entertaining match in front of over four thousand spectators. It was the Mariners who went behind, however, when in the 9th minute, Tony Adcock scored for Peterborough. But three goals from Paul Groves, Gary Childs and Steve Livingstone secured the points for Town. Dominic Iorfa got a late goal for the Posh to ensure a jittery last few minutes for the Mariners.

    Town Team: Crichton, McDermott, Agnew, Futcher, Rodger, Ford, Childs, Gilbert, Groves, Livingstone, Mendonca.
    Subs: Rees, Croft, Wilmott.

    Peterborough Team: Barber, McDonald, Spearing, Greenman, Howarth, Welsh, Williams, McGorry, Adcock, Charlery, Brissett.
    Subs: Carter, Iorfa, Cooksey

    Attendance: 4,504

    Peterborough Head-to-Head (50th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: 1-0 to Town Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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