CLARKE-HARRIS IS SPOT ON FOR POSH
JONSON Clarke-Harris secured Peterborough what could be a vital point against Stoke, with his second goal of the match, to please his manager Grant McCann.
Clarke-Harris netted a 91stminute penalty as Posh denied the Potters after Lewis Baker’s spot-kick seven minutes earlier looked like securing the visitors a first win in eight.
Jacob Brown had given the visitors a first-half lead only for Clarke-Harris to level five minutes later.
McCann said: “It was two evenly matched teams. I was disappointed with the first goal. It was sloppy from us and we didn’t clear. It was a good finish from Brown, but it was a good response from us.
“I thought we were better in the second-half and more positive and on the front foot. Then we get the sucker punch of the penalty decision which looked harsh from where I stood.
“But we showed real resilience to get back into the game.
“It’s been a frustrating season for Johno, but I’m really pleased with him.
“I’m proud of the boys and I told them they will get their just rewards for their endeavour and attitude and going to the death today.
“We’ve got to respect the point. It’s a tough division. We performed well for large periods.
“We’ve got a home game (against Swansea) on Wednesday and we need another disciplined performance.”
Stoke began brightly and nearly took the lead after seven minutes when Demeaco Duhaney hit a curling effort from the right which struck a post.
Brown then struck after 28 minutes when Joe Allen slipped him in down the right, which was followed by a clinical finish into the far corner.
The home side equalised five minutes later after a surging run from Josh Knight led to Clarke-Harris curling in a superb left-footed strike from 18 yards out.
Brown should have restored Stoke’s lead 12 minutes into the second half, but he skied his shot from inside the area after Josh Tymon sent in a low cross.
Stoke then thought they had won the game after a cross bounced up and hit the hand of Knight which allowed Baker to thump home a penalty.
But when sub Ricky Jade -Jones’ superb run was ended by Ben Wilmot, Clarke-Harris’ low spot-kick earned Peterborough a point, albeit they remain six points from safety with just ten matches to go.
Frustrated Stoke boss Michael O’Neill felt his side should have won a second penalty when Josh Maja went down right at the end.
He said: “It was the clearest of the three (penalty shouts). Unfortunately the ref is not strong enough to give it. The other two were penalties.
“We’re over 20 points we’ve lost from winning positions this season. It’s something in our make-up at the minute we have to get rid of.
“It was a good finish from Jacob. I thought we controlled the game well first-half. Second-half we didn’t get the same momentum, but we looked like the team that was going to win the game.”