EVANS FUMING AT REF’S DISPLAY
FURIOUS Posh boss Steve Evans wants the performance of the referee to be investigated after his second-place side saw their winless home run stretched to five games.
Evans said: “Accrington are a good side, but we gave them too much respect in the first half. We spoke about being more creative in the second half but we missed good opportunities.
“We’ve got to find the recipe to be successful at home, but this is a game we should have won based on possession and chances.
“The other factor we saw today was an incompetent referee. The two-footed challenge on Marcus was nothing short of horrendous and a talented boy like McConville doesn’t need to do that.
“There were also fouls on Siriki all afternoon. Every time the kid got the ball he got smashed and the performance of the referee should attract interest as people need to look at why he was so bad. We really have to question what went on with his performance.”
The game was decided early on as McConville pounced to hit the only goal at ABAX Stadium after just 11 minutes as Stanley recorded a fifth win in their last six league games.
McConville had a simple task tucking away his sixth of the campaign after an Offrande Zanzala header was blocked.
Only a fine save by former Accrington keeper Aaron Chapman denied his old club a second goal within two minutes as he denied Jordan Clark from point-blank range.
Leading goalscorer Matt Godden thumped a 25-yard blast against the bar as Posh looked to respond, but Evans’ men rarely threatened as their home troubles continued.
Stanley were again closest to scoring after the break when a Daniel Barlaser effort deflected against a post, but the visitors were also fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men midway through the second half as McConville escaped with a yellow card for a dreadful challenge on Posh substitute Marcus Maddison.
And the hosts’ best chance of levelling late on went begging when Godden scuffed wide from close range
Accrington continued a fine start to their first-ever League One season and boss John Coleman said: “I thought we were good value for the win based on the chances we had.
“Peterborough had little spells of pressure, but I don’t think our keeper had a save of any note to make.
“We were excellent all over the park and the way in which we passed the ball really pleased me.
“That was certainly the case in the build-up to our goal and scoring early on allowed us to silence the crowd.
“It’s still early in the season and there will be plenty of twists and turns ahead, but we have a method of playing that the players have bought into.”