Wayne rues late lapses
WAYNE ROONEY must be wondering how steep his managerial learning curve is going to get.
The Derby boss admitted his frustration after his side tossed away the chance of victory after shipping two goals in 11 minutes of added time.
Siriki Dembele struck the last-gasp winner in the 100th minute after Harrison Burrows had cancelled out Jack Stretton’s opening goal.
And that turnaround came after Rooney had seen his only senior striker Colin Kazimrichards go off on a stretcher with a seriouslooking leg injury.
The Rams manager (below) said: “I feel frustrated. Lapses in concentration have cost us and it’s results that matter.
“We let a runner go for the first goal and then a mistake for the second, and that happens.
“But the one thing you can’t question is the players’ attitude and their hard work.
“It’s frustrating to concede the way we did, and we deserved to win.
“But if you don’t keep your concentration for 90 minutes you get punished.”
Stretton, 19, came on after Kazim-richards pulled up just after the restart.
And the teenager wasted no time making an impression by firing home from a Ravel Morrison knock down after Peterborough failed to clear a 77th-minute corner.
Stretton is now the only recognised striker in Rooney’s squad.
Rooney added: “It’s a great finish by Jack and I’m pleased for him.
“But I think the bigger issue is Colin getting his injury and we are left with no recognised senior striker.
“He is going to have a lot of pressure on his hands unless something changes.
“I’m not asking for any favours. That’s where we are.”
Peterborough appeared set for a third successive defeat of the season until Joe Ward whipped in a low cross that was turned home by Burrows in the first minute of added time.
And Ward was again the provider late on, delivering the ball that forced a mistake from Nathan Byrne for Dembele to pounce.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “We have a great record of coming back in games and it’s important to keep our home form going because it’s going to be vital.”
PETERBOROUGH: Pym 6; Thompson 6, Kent 7, Beevers 7 (Burrows 85), Butler 6; Ward 8, Norburn 6, Grant 6, Randall 7 (Knight 73, 6); Clarke-harris 6, Marriott 5 (Dembele 62, 6).
Unused Subs: Cornell, Edwards, Poku, Tomlinson.
DERBY COUNTY: Roos 5; Byrne 6, Stearman 7, Davies 7, Forsyth 6; Bird 6, Shinnie 7; Ebosele 6 (Sibley 58, 6), Lawrence 6, Morrison 6 (Jozwiak 84); Kazim-richards 6 (Stretton 52, 7).
Unused Subs: Allsop, Brown, Watson, Williams.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Joe Ward. A constant threat down the right. Set up both Peterborough’s goals.
REFEREE: David Webb 6.