The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
All the Posh news
Steve Evans appears to be counting down the days to the opening of the January transfer window.
Last Saturday’s disappointing 1-1 home draw with Walsall drummed home to the Posh boss the need to find help for a squad who have become stuck in a rut.
Former Posh star Lee Tomlin is expected to join on loan from Premier League Cardiff City as soon as the window opens, but Evans wants more new men in order to maintain a challenge for promotion.
Posh needed a late penalty save from Conor O’Malley to preserve their weekend point after Ivan Toney’s second-half equaliser.
Posh were booed off by a small section of the home support after reaching halftime a goal down, although O’Malley’s heroics lightened up the mood of another excellent crowd boosted by schoolchildren admitted for free.
The draw stretched the Posh unbeaten run to 11 competitive matches, but seven have been drawn and the run includes just one League One win, at home to bottom club Wimbledon AFC.
“I hope the fans don’t think I have pickled onions for eyes,” Evans stated. “I see what they see and like them I was frus- trated by a poor performance. Character got us a point which is more than we deserved against a Walsall team who played very well.
“One or two players at least put a shift in and Conor O’Malley stood up really tall in the second half, but the rest were awful. We were awful in central midfield and awful out wide, but the performance did at least confirm we have a squad that needs help. I know we signed a lot of players in the summer, but it was always likely to be the case that some wouldn’t make the step up.
“We are not far short of being a top team in League One and the chairman and Barry Fry know what I think we need and I know they will act accordingly. All the promotion challengers, with the possible exception of Portsmouth, will strengthen their squad so it’s important we do.”
Central defender Ryan Tafazolli missed Saturday’s game because of a groin strain. Evans was complimentary about replacement Jason Naismith’s performance in his first outing as a centre-back for 18 months.
Experienced defender Sebastien Bassong was again absent and he is likely to leave Posh when his short-term contract expires next month. He has made just one Posh appearance in the Checkatrade Trophy.
If Tomlin’s transfer goes through he could make his debut at former club Middlesbrough in a third round FA Cup tie at the Riverside Stadium.
He won’t be eligible for the New Year’s Day League One home game with Scunthorpe.
■ Ticket details for Posh’s tie at Middlesborough on Saturday, January 5 have been released and heavily reduced admission prices are on offer. Prices vary for adults from £10-£15 and there are further discounts for seniorsand under 18s.
Further information is available at www.theposhtickets.com.
Over 200 tickets have already been sold online.
■ Peterborough United will play Chelsea Under 21s at Stamford Bridge in the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy on Wednesday, January 9 (7pm kick-off ).
Unfortunately early Christmas deadlines prevent us from delivering our normal post-match service from the League One match at Barnsley on Boxing Day in the print edition of the Peterborough Telegraph.
That reaction and a full match report can be found online at www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk. A brief match report can be seen on page 72 of this paper..
Steve Evans was an angry man after the Walsall match.
Ryan Tafazolli missed the Walsall game because of injury.
Evans: “I hope the fans don’t think I have pickled onions for eyes.”