The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
A rare goalless draw, but a satisfying point all the same
Generally Posh treat 0-0 draws with the same disdain TV viewers treat the BBC Christmas programme schedule.
And yet a first goal-free draw of the campaign was strangely satisfying, for both teams actually, although, possibly after a period of quiet reflection Bristol Rovers will realise this was a great chance missed to beat a promotion rival.
Posh were missing seven regular squad members and didn’t go forward with their usual fluency so a point against a team on a four-game winning streak in League One was a good one, with the added bonus of it moving Darren Ferguson’s men into an automatic promotion place.
Posh still could have won. Mo Eisa’s 15th-minute disallowed goal after home ‘keeper Anssi Jaakkola had spilled a Joe Ward shot was a marginal offside call and the same striker was also denied a superbly-taken goal by Jaakkola just before he was substituted midway through the second-half.
That enabled 17 year-old Ricky-Jade Jones to enter the fray and terrorise a Rovers defence who had looked rock solid for most of the match. Jones scorched past his marker a couple of times without finding a teammate with a cross, and a late volley was tipped around a post by Jaakkola.
Rovers were restricted mainly to long shots by a well organised defence which featured recalled centre-back Rhys Bennett in place of captain Mark Beevers as a calf strain forced the former Bolton defender to miss a League One game for the first time this season.
Such commendable discipline was almost ruined in the last minute when a rare Niall Mason error led to home skipper Ollie Clarke advancing unchecked towards the Posh goal. His shot was fierce and on target, but Christy Pym’s well-placed legs saved the day. Defeat would have been harsh on either side in a game that was easy on the eye if rather lacking in goalmouth action.
Both sides deployed wingbacks and three centre-backs and tried to pass the ball through midfield on a damp afternoon.
Rovers seemed more pleased with the point. Understandably so as they were on their third manager of the week.
Christy Pym’s well-placed legs saved the day.