It’s a public flogging in Fleetwood

Thelongesttripoftheseason turned into the longest day.

Well for the 332 Posh fans who battled heavy traffic on the road and train delays to watch a pitiful display from the team.

No overnight stay in a Hilton Hotel for them, although perhaps the team headquartersonFridaynight wasalitle too comfortable as Posh sleep-walked their way through a game they did well to only lose 2-0.

It was not a help that star manMarcusMaddisonwithdrew30minutesbeforekickoff because of illness, but it was not an excuse either as manager Grant McCann was honest enough to admit afterwards.

Poshtriedto spend£500k on his replacement for the day, George Moncur, in the summerbeforesnafflinghim on loan at the end of August. On the evidence presented so far, Posh were lucky not to fritter away another half a million quid.

But Moncur was not the only player to display lethargy and apparent apathy from the start. Goalkeeper Luke McGee can be excused as can right-back Hayden White who offered attacking hopebefore the break before catching thegeneralmalaise.

For the second week in a row, Posh were a goal down inside three minutes as Jack Sowerby was given the freedom of Fleetwood to shoot the home side in front.

But this time there would benocomebackasPoshgrew worse as the game wore on. Central defender Ryan Tafazolli, and strikers Shaquile Coulthirst and Tom Nichols, all wasted chances to equalise, but the home side were worthy of a second goal midway through the second period when a terrific counter-attack was finished off, most unfortunately, by Jack Baldwin.

Devante Cole also struck the crossbar for Fleetwood with a fierce shot.

One hopes the Posh fans managedtohittheBlackpool bars after the game. It might havebeentheonlywaytoforget a most dismal performance.