Fans’ apathy matched by players

Posh stuck two fingers up to the Checkatrade Trophy with a display that summed up most fans’ opinion of this most unloved and unwelcome competition.

Unfortunately, while it’s okforfanstobeapathetic, it’s unreasonableforprofessional footballers to be the same.

PoshbossGrantMcCann’s anger after the match was understandable. At the very least this wasanopportunity for his players to find some form following a long run of irritating draws.

Instead, and despite MK Dons fielding a severely depleted side, Posh offered up a display that suggested a tough season could be on the cards.

Posh also made changes, but only the presence, for the first time from the start, of 17 year-old DeonMooreup front, couldbeconsideredan experiment.

Mindyou, theformofTom Nichols in recent weeks demanded some sort of action and his 30-minute contribution as a substitute merely confirmed Posh fears.

Only the excellence of Posh goalkeeper Luke McGeehadkepthissideintouch against slick opposition before his team-mates finally woke up and exerted some late pressure in the final 10 minutes.

B ut N i c h o l s (twice) and central defender Ryan Tafazolli missed decent chances to grab a most undeserved equaliser.

Nichols evenstole the ball offdithering Dons’ goalkeeperLeeNichollsandonlymanaged to hit the side-netting.

Significantly one of the first-team regulars fielded by Dons was Kieran Agard, a proven League One goalscorer, and he won the game witha40th-minutetap-in afterBrandonThomas-Asabnti had robbed Marcus Maddison.

Agard was one of four players, alongside Giorgio Rasulo, BenReevesandDean Bowditch, to be thwarted by McGee’s agility and reflexes.

If nothing else, Posh appear to have a better goalkeeperthanlast season. Now to find a striker....