SOUR ’N BITTER
Posh rage at late penalty
GRANT LEADBITTER rattled home a penalty winner to ignite fury from Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson.
The Sunderland midfielder notched his first goal for the club in 11 years to give boss Phil Parkinson’s early promotion hopes a major boost.
Local lad Leadbitter hadn’t notched for his childhood club since March 2009 – against Wigan in the Premier League. That was just before before he left for Ipswich and then Middlesbrough before returning in 2019.
But he kept his cool to hammer home in the 81st minute after ref Scott Oldham ruled Jack Taylor had fouled Denver Hume.
Ferguson bellowed that the ref made a “**** ing joke of a decision” and called it disgraceful.
Hume appeared to overrun the ball inside the area and went down trying to win it back.
Ferguson said: “The ref has given a disgraceful decision. It is a foul on Jack. I have watched it back and all the players are fuming.
“I can’t do anything about it. We have lost. It is a disappointing result, we had to score when we were on top.”
Sunderland can’t contemplate another season in League One and need promotion. With more conviction going forward they will be in the hunt.
Their finances are hammered more than most with the ban on fans attending games worth up to £7million a season.
The experience of an empty Stadium of Light – that once rocked with 48,000 fans – echoing to players’ appeals and managerial cajoling is surreal.
But they look a solid outfit and grew into a tough game against fellow likely top-six contenders who also had their moments.
Parkinson said: “It was a penalty. When Darren watches it back he can’t complain. Grant has
come back in great mental and physical shape.
“I am pleased with the staff for backing what we saw with our eyes and the data on the training pitch.
“He is a yard sharper and controlled the game.
“Our work ethic and discipline were good and we passed it quickly. It was a question of who would break the deadlock.”
Burge 7, Willis 7, Wright 7, Flanagan 7, O’Nien 7, Hume 8, Leadbitter 7, Scowen 6, Gooch 6 (McLaughlin 89), Maguire 6 (O’Brien 39, 6), Wyke 6 (Graham 70, 6).
Unused Subs: Matthews, Xhemajli, Diamond, Grigg PETERBOROUGH: Pym 7, Butler 6, Thompson 6, Beevers 6, Kent 6, Taylor 6, Clarke-Harris 7, Dembele 7, Broom 6 (Ward 70, 6) Reed 6, Szmodics 6 (Jones 85). Unused Subs: Eisa, Brown, Gyollia, Hamilton, Mason MAN OF THE MATCH: Denver. Hume Full of running from left wing-back and won the crucial penalty REFEREE: Scott Oldham 6.