BRITT DOES THE BUSINESS
NEW BOY on the Posh block, Britt Assombalonga, took the opening day honours to leave returning former Peterborough boss Mark Cooper feeling hard done by.
Introduced to the fans via a remake of a Barry Manilow classic, the record signing was calling the tune inside the opening ten minutes as he raced onto a 60-yard hack upfield from Michael Bostwick and finished emphatically with a fierce rising shot.
But most of the style came from Cooper’s Town who bossed the midfield without providing a finishing touch.
“It was a fantastic finish, he looks like money well spent to me” admitted the Swindon caretaker manager. “We are disappointed with how we defended the long ball forward.
“We did really well, particularly in the second half when we were the better side.
“It was refreshing to see some of the stuff in pre season happen out on the pitch but we didn’t threaten their goal enough. Our young lads still need time to gell.
“The chairman knows I want the job. Of course, I’d want to work with such technically gifted players.”
Former Posh loanee Alex Pritchard went close twice in the first five minutes, once forcing Bobby Olejnik to save athletically to his right.
Town were caught short by the ultimate route one goal but responded well with Darren Ward rallying the defence and Ryan Mason the pick of a highly cultured midfield.
Long range efforts from Massimo Luongo and Mason were as close as they got however to being on level terms by the break.
Posh skipper Tommy Rowe nearly snapped a post with a sweetly hit 20-yarder after 55 minutes before the London Road faithful were left hoping the visitors couldn’t turn possession into a point.
Olejnik made one more save – scruffily this time from Mason’s 25yard free kick – and was fortunate to see Luongo’s dangerous effort deflected wide. Yet counterpart Wes Foderingham didn’t have to bend his back again after the winning goal.
The game’s other key moment came with 15 minutes left. Mason left Olejnik well beaten with a superb 30-yarder that crashed back off the Posh bar to confirm this wasn’t his or Cooper’s day.
Posh manager Darren Ferguson said:“That’s a good start. I’m really pleased.We knew it was going to be tricky against a side with so many players from Spurs in their side.
“We should have been more than one goal up in the first half but didn’t play as well afterwards. Yet they didn’t really open us up; they played a lot of stuff in front of us.
“I’m delighted that Britt got his goal and he linked up well with Tyrone Barnett up front.
“It’s like the first day back at school – you want to get it out of the way and we did.
“I know there’s a lot of improvement to come and we’ve got a strong squad. I’d still like to add another striker if I can.”