PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR ACE OZTUMER
PETERBOROUGH manager Darren Ferguson singled out match-winner Erhun Oztumer for special praise after the midfielder marked his first league start for the club with a delicious free-kick.
Ferguson admitted Oztumer has had to be patient since stepping up from Non-League side Dulwich Hamlet in the summer, but a change in formation saw the midfielder handed his full League debut and he produced the goods when it mattered most as sorry Leyton Orient slumped to another defeat.
Sean Batt’s first goal of the season cancelled out an early volley from Aaron McLean, but Oztumer’s goal on 47 minutes confirmed Orient as the worst home side in League One, with just one solitary win.
The result leaves Orient 22nd and new manager Fabio Liverani has a tough task to turn things around after defeat in his first game at the helm.
“He scored a few free-kicks like that last season when we were watching him,” said Ferguson.“If we get the ball to him in the right areas he’s a good player.
“He’s been unlucky not to start as many games because of the formation, but with the diamond you can get him in the team. As a player you want that sort of player behind you. He was very, very good .
“I felt one or two times on the breakaway we could have done a little better but we managed to see it through. I saw a team that was really determined to get the right result out there. It gives us a start and could be something that lets us go on a little run again.
“No one is getting carried away with one win in eight or nine games but it’s good it get it here against tough opposition.”
McLean powered in a close-range volley, connecting with a pin-point Joe Newell cross to score against his former club nine minutes in.
Before half-time Orient equalised, Batt turned well in the box to tuck away a placed finish low past Ben Alnwick for his first goal in over a year.
After the break Posh flew out the blocks and regained the lead, Oztumer silencing the Matchroom Stadium crowd with a perfectlyplaced free-kick in the top right-hand corner.
As Posh closed out the game the O’s became visibly frustrated and despite Joe Newell seeing red late on Orient could not find an equaliser despite a last-gasp goalmouth scramble.
Fabio Liverani said: “I was expecting a physical approach to the game.
“We have eight players injured and one suspended so it is difficult to say what was good and what was bad out there. When we have a full squad it will be different.
There were many positives here– we gave them very little and I think we deserved to draw. The only concern for us is the league table as we are third from bottom, but I believe we can get ourselves out of this situation.
“I need to see the players before I decide whether we need to strengthen in January. I am working really hard to get to know the other teams in the league using video footage of games, as well as watching them live.
“I just arrived last week so time will be the biggest factor.”