Fuming Posh are Paddy whacked
PADDY McNAIR’S
85th-minute spot-kick and a second senior goal for teenager Josh Coburn earned Middlesbrough only their third win in 10.
But this dull affair was as much about the penalty that wasn’t given as it was about the incident that led to Peterborough crashing to a sixth successive defeat on the road.
While there was not much doubt Nathan Thompson tugged at McNair’s shirt, the visitors felt they had just as strong a case four minutes after the restart.
Boro keeper Joe Lumley appeared to have taken Sinki Dembele’s legs but despite protests, referee John Busby waved play on.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “The referee’s got that one wrong, very wrong.
“It was a blatant penalty.”
The biggest talking point of a turgid first half was a banner unfurled in the South Stand with a damning verdict on the Newcastle takeover.
But on this evidence Boro are in dire need of some investment with a lack of quality, particularly in the final third, costing them dear.
They did go close in the
19th minute when Posh keeper David Cornell denied Duncan Watmore.
And they improved after the break with Andraz Sporar’s diving header flying wide before Coburn sealed victory.
Boro boss Neil Warnock said: “So many lads had to play out of position but I couldn’t fault the effort.”
MIDDLESBROUGH: Lumley 6; Howson 6, Bamba 8, McNair 6; Tavernier 7, Crooks
6, Payero 5, Hernandez 7; Watmore 6; Ikpeazu 5 (Jones (74th) 6), Sporar 6 (Coburn 83rd)
PETERBOROUGH: Cornell 6; Thompson 6 (Kanu 90th), Edwards 6, Knight 7, Beevers
6, Butler 5; Dembele 7 (Ward (75th) 5), Norburn 5, Taylor 5, Grant 6 (Burrows
77th); Szmodics 6
STAR MAN: Sol Bamba
REF: J Busby