Kirk brings Posh down to earth
CREWE WRECK FERG RUN
DARREN FERGUSON was a victim of the manager-of-themonth curse as top-of-the-table Posh were well and truly coshed.
No doubt the Peterborough boss would have also had to deflect a few choice words from his ambitious chairman Darragh MacAnthony who is intent on reaching the Championship and according to Ferguson doesn’t hold back when things go askew.
“We’ve been on a magnificent run of late and to lose it in this manner is incredibly disappointing,” said Ferguson after disappearing down the tunnel before the final whistle.
“Crewe thoroughly deserved the win. In every department they were way ahead of us. If I could have made more substitutions I would have. We didn’t get anywhere near them in the first half.
“I need to know why we gave a performance like that after doing so well.” After his side won six of their seven games in October, Ferguson was named League One manager of the month.
He had showered Crewe with praise in the build-up calling them one of the best footballing sides in the division.
And from early on he had to watch with growing frustration from the technical area as the home side lived up to the accolade with s ome del i g h t ful interplay, carving open the league leaders almost at will.
Crewe boss Dave Artell said: “We finally got some goals to match our performances. We have deservedly beaten the league leaders. The lads are a terrific bunch. It’s a pleasure to work with them every day.”
They fully merited the opening goal, a well-executed 29th-minute free- kick from Harry Pickering which arrowed across into the corner of the net from just outside the area.
Despite having lost their previous three league games there was no lack of confidence and composure.
Adventurous midfielder Oli Finney should have scored, sending a free header from Tom Lowery’s cross wide and forcing keeper Christy Pym into action.
Before Posh had the opportunity to hit back Niall Mason pressed the self-destruct button with a loose crossfield ball which the alert Charlie Kirk intercepted and raced through to hammer past the exposed Pym.
It had been a horror 45 minutes for Posh who had arrived in Cheshire on the back of eight unbeaten games. Ferguson’s father Sir Alex was renowned for applying the hairdryer in circumstances like these – and you sensed the away dressing room would have been pretty lively with Fergie junior.
His chastened players were sent out early as he looked for a positive response.
They upped their tempo but created little to worry the home side, with substitute Mo Eisa failing to cash in after Will Jaaskelainen could not keep hold of a fierce Reece Brown drive. The keeper managed to block the follow-up.
Jaaskelainen 6; Ng 7, Offord 7, Beckles 7, Pickering 7; Wintle 7, Lowery 7, Finney 8 (Murphy 83); Powell 7 (Dale 76,6), Mandron 7, Kirk 8.
Richards, Ainley, Zanzala, Lancashire, Johnson.
Pym 6; Mason 5 (Blake-Tracy 46,6), Beevers 6, Kent 6, Butler 6; Brown,6 Ward 6, Reed 6 (Hamilton 54,6); Szmodics 6 (Eisa 70,6), Clarke-Harris 5, Dembele 5. Subs Gyollai, Edwards, Broom, Clarke.
Oli Finney. A constant livewire. Never allowed an early miss to dent his energy and enthusiasm. REFEREE: Tom Bramall 7.