New Dad Anthony has dream 48 hours

GRANT McCann singled out midfielder Anthony Grant’s commitment after a Posh display that suggested a big season ahead.

While Jack Marriott deservedly grabbed headlines for an opportunistic hat-trick, Grant’s impressive contribution came in unusual circumstances.

McCann explained: “Anthony’s girlfriend gave birth to a little boy on Friday morning and he drove to the game on his own last night, not getting to the hotel until 11pm

“He has turned in a terrific performance and that is the sort of heart and passion I want at the club.”

Of Marriott, McCann added: “Jack deserved his treble. The amount of work he put into the previous two games without scoring was tremendous.

“He is an out-and-out goalscorer, who gets chances and takes them. That’s why the chairman was prepared to spend so much money on him.

“It was a great team performance from the first minute to the 95th. But we won’t be getting carried away.”

Marriott fired Posh ahead on six minutes from a Gwion Edwards cross, which Ryan Sweeney might have cleared for a corner.

It set the tone for a nightmare Rovers defensive display. Ten minutes into the second half Marriott was on target again, slipping the ball past Adam Smith from a Junior Morias pass.

Experienced defender Steve Taylor forced the ball home when Jack Baldwin headed on a 78th-minute corner. And although Rovers substitute Rory Gaffney headed home a Lee Brown cross, Marriott had the final say.

The striker tapped in an Andrew Hughes cross at the far post to set the seal on an emphatic win, leaving Rovers boss Darrell Clarke furious.

“I don’t want to hear any more talk about us being a top-six side because we are miles off that at the moment,” he said.

“The players face a tough week on the training ground. We looked vulnerable to virtually every Peterborough attack and it simply wasn’t good enough.

“We have to build some bricks before we can consider ourselves a good side. I have faith in my players, but there is a lot of hard work ahead.

“It has been a nightmare start for us. I take full responsibility as always. That simply wasn’t good enough.”

Rovers hit the woodwork twice through Billy Bodin’s first half shot and a looping second half header from Ollie Clarke, but were well beaten.