Post-Match Reaction - Rochdale

Well, it wasn't perfect by any means, but it was certainly a vast improvement on the recent performances from the Posh.

Posh started brightly but couldn't muster anything clear cut to trouble the Dale keeper. That was until Jack Baldwin found space in the box to steer Posh into a 1-0 lead following a corner from Marcus Maddison. A move followed that looked almost like the Posh of old - good work on the right wing afforded Leo Da Silva Lopes the space to set Tom Nichols up for his 12th goal of the season. And just like that, Posh switched back to the team who have been leaking goals in recent weeks, the defence were cut open by a through ball which allowed Joe Thompson a simple one on one finish to reduce the arrears for the visitors. Joe Rafferty saw a red just before half time when he picked up a second yellow for hauling back Marcus Maddison. So Posh led 2-1 at half time, and apart from the goal conceded, it was looking pretty good.

Eight minutes into the second half, Donal McDermott became the second Dale player to be sent for an early bath. His lunging tackle on Baldwin was his final action of the game, as referee Chris Sarginson gave him a straight red card. Posh had a number of chances, but the likes of Brad Inman Marcus Maddison and birthday boy Craig Mackail-Smith all squandered decent attempts to put the game beyond any reasonable doubt. Referee Sarginson brought the red card out for the third time in the game, sending Jack Baldwin off for a second bookable offence, before Paul Taylor ended the contest with a well struck effort which left Wilson in the Dale goal with no chance.

Final Score: Posh 3-1 Rochdale

My man of the match: Michael Bostwick - Didn't put a foot wrong all afternoon, and timed his tackles to perfection. Provided good protection for the back four and a partnership with Anthony Grant seems exciting.

There were plenty of positives on show for the Posh, but some areas for concern, also. The defence, despite looking fairly solid for most of the afternoon, were completely undone by one decent pass for the Rochdale goal. Ryan Tafazolli charged out of the back line on a few occasions to try and win the ball high up the pitch, and one of those ended up seeing his defensive partner, Baldwin, sent off.

Tafazolli was beaten by a Dale man and, in my opinion, should've took one for the team and hauled the man down before he reached Baldwin. He didn't do so, and Baldwin was left with no other alternative other than to let the man run in on goal, or bring him down. He chose the latter, and will now probably miss the next two games due to his sending off earlier in the season.

Posh played more of a 4-2-3-1, which looked pretty good. Grant McCann spoke in his post match interview about the importance of getting his more influential players higher up the pitch - he was spot on. Taylor and Maddison found plenty of space to work in and produced the kind of quality we've become used to seeing from them. Tom Nichols benefitted from their movement and quality deliveries, as did Mackail-Smith, who really should've scored his 100th goal for the club today.

On Tuesday we go to Millwall, and will have Anthony Grant back in contention. Grant alongside Bostwick in a 4-2-3-1 formation could work for Posh. Both are solid, and working together could provide some much needed protection for our still shaky back line. I imagine Leo Da Silva Lopes or Brad Inman could drop out of the starting XI, but I'll revisit that prospect in my pre-match thoughts ahead of Tuesday's game.

So the win for Posh left us just three points off the playoffs, with Millwall drawing to Oldham, and Southend slipping up at Gillingham. Three points on Tuesday could see Posh move level on points with 6th place Southend, and in all honesty you really would have to put Posh right back in the playoff picture should that take place. Southend don't play on Tuesday, so they will have a game in hand, but three points are vital in what has to go down as the most important game of the season so far at The Den on Tuesday!

Follow me on Twitter: @TomLea_

Pre-Match Thoughts - Southend United

As many of my regular readers will know by now, I usually do a post before and after each match. But if I'm honest, I had absolutely nothing to say about the shambles that took place at Walsall last week. It was a joke, an embarrassment, and simply not good enough from everyone involved in the incidents in the dying moments of the match.

So moving swiftly on, we host Southend United at the ABAX tonight, in a game which really could make or break our season. Southend are just ahead of us, and in my mind this game really is win or bust.

Posh

Following Saturday's events, Posh will be missing captain (and I use the term in its loosest possible form) Chris Forrester after his stupid red card, as well as Anthony Grant, who picked up his 10th yellow of the season at Walsall. Gwion Edwards was stretchered off on Saturday and will miss tonights fixture, whilst Grant McCann refused to rule out Michael Bostwick, who has been making good progress in his recovery from a broken jaw.

Dominic Ball is capable of playing at the base of the diamond, which could see a return to the line up for Jack Baldwin. Brad Inman could also play as Posh are short on numbers in midfield. Paul Taylor was below par on Saturday, so I'm expecting him to be back amongst the subs. Martin Samuelsen could start, and I'd fully expect Marcus Maddison to return to the line up tonight.

Jerome Binnom-Williams missed out on Saturday, and providing he's fit, I'd expect him to return to the squad, although Andrew Hughes didn't really do too much wrong on Saturday in my book.

I think we're going to see a mix up in the starting XI tonight, and really it's difficult to guess who will play. In all honesty, any one of Saturday's team could be dropped, and I imagine some of them will be.

My predicted line up (click image to enlarge):

Subs: Tyler, Binnom-Williams, Da Silva Lopes, Bostwick, Taylor, Morias, Nichols

Southend United

Southend have enjoyed a good season up to now, and currently sit in 6th - three points clear of Posh. They were pegged back twice on Saturday by Northampton Town, and ended up only taking a point from the game, but have beaten Oxford United and Scunthorpe in recent weeks. 

Their main goal threat is Simon Cox. He's made the step down to League One, and seems to have found his level as he's flourished under Phil Brown this term. Cox's strike partner is likely to be Marc-Antoine Fortune - the veteran striker is also capable of taking his chances, so the Posh defence will have to be alert to keep them quiet tonight. 

Southend may be missing central midfielder Michael Timlin, and centre back Anton Ferdinand - whose partners are both expecting to give birth in the coming days. They both may feature in the match, but it'd certainly help Posh if they were missing and Southend were forced to make changes to their preferred line up. 

Prediction: Posh 1-2 Southend - I can't justify predicting a Posh win after Saturday's farce. Southend have been going very well in the league this season and Posh's weakened midfield might pay dividends in tonight's game. Southend actually have players capable of scoring on a regular basis and I just can't see Posh coming out of it with anything more than a point. Hopefully they prove me wrong!