Posh plan a shock

Manager Steve Evans believes three wins from the final four matches will win a League One play-off place for Peterborough United.

That’s easier said than done when visits to promotionchasing Blackburn (tonight, Thursday), Shrewsbury (April 24) and Portsmouth (May 5) are all on the agenda, but Evans is backing his side to deliver despite a demoralising home defeat at the hands of lowly Rochdale last Saturday.

Posh went down 1-0 to Dale despite playing against 10 men for almost 40 minutes. Posh missed a glut of second-half opportunities and ran into a goalkeeper playing at the top of his game.

Posh were without firstchoice centre-backs Ryan Tafazolli and Steven Taylor as well as mercurial midfielder Marcus Maddison, but still did enough to win according to Evans.

Posh also suffered another poor refereeing decision when Gwion Edwards had an equaliser 15 minutes from time ruled out for offside.

“As a manager you can’t legislate for your players missing five or six great scoring opportunities, for the opposition goalkeeper to make three brilliant saves and for us to suffer a poor decision for the second Saturday in a row.

“None of that should be allowed to disguise what was a poor performance for an hour or so, but we created enough chances to win three matches.

“Our biggest problem was none of the chances fell to (top scorer) Jack Marriott. Rochdale played their typical game of hitting the ball long to big Calvin Andrew and it worked out well for them.

“But I couldn’t have asked the players to work any harder though.

They gave everything, but it wasn’t our day. That happens in football.

“On the day we definitely didn’t do enough, but we failed not because we didn’t pass the ball well or because we didn’t create any chances, we lost because we weren’t good enpough in front of goal.

“I still believe 70 points will be enough to finish in the top six so that means three wins from four matches.

“If we take four points from the games at Blackburn and Shrewsbury we will probbaly be back in the play-off places which would be great ahead of our final home match against Fleetwood (April 28).

“Of course our remaining games are hard, but we have to find a way to pick up wins in them like Rochdale did against us and I have no doubt we can do it.

“I haven’t seen one of my sides produce such a dominant second-half display as they did last weekend for a long time. We must keep that up, but others need to help Jack Marriott with the goalscoring.”

Evans has started receiving stick from some Posh fans who have not been impressed with his side’s performance or with his demeanour in the technical area during games. But Evans has received backing on all fronts from chairman Darragh MacAnthony. MacAnthony said: “The comments are embarrassing from some Posh fans. Calling for a manager to go eight games in, judging him with another managers’ players and constant moaning. Get a grip!

“Football is a simple game when a new manager takes over. It’s down to the players to impress him and the coaches daily. And if any player needs more motivation than the possibility of play-offs/Championship football and wages, then it doesn’t say a lot for their character does it? And I wouldn’t dream of telling a promotion-winning manager how to act on the touchline.”

The Rochdale defeat dropped Posh to ninth place. MIdweek results, most notably a win for Charlton at Shrewsbury, left Posh three points outside the top six.

Evans: “I haven’t seen one of my sides dominate a game like that for ages.”

This headed ‘goal’ from Gwion Edwards was ruled out for offside.

Darragh MacAnthony has backed his new manager.

Centre-back Steven Taylor missed the Rochdale defeat.