Lee deal in the balance

This was one of those performances that defies all logic.

Posh, a team not out of the top six all season and on the back of a 4-0 thumping of Accrington, at home to Scunthorpe, a team in the bottom four after a recent run of six games without a point or a goal.

The result, a 2-0 away win, was bad enough, but the manner of the loss was rather frightening for a team still claiming to be promotion contenders.

Scunthorpe were gifted a goal at the start of each half and defended their advantage so comfortably, Posh failed to register a single shot on target... against the team that started the day with the worst defensive record in League One.

That’s a staggering statistic when Posh threw so many attacking players at the game. Hopes that a new year would herald some improvement in form at the ABAX proved wildly optimistic.

Scunthorpe had already hit the bar through George Thomas and seen the same player have a shot kicked off the line by Ryan Tafazolli before Joe Ward’s ridiculous backpass sent Lee Novak through for a sixth-minute opener and Louis Reed’s bonkers decision to dribble out of his own area enabled Novak to secure the points before the hour mark.

The Posh reponse was pitfiful. There was no pressure, no imagination, no urgency.

Hopes of improved home form proved wildly optimistic.

Siriki Dembele on the attack for Posh against Scunthorpe.