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After falling behind early on The Posh showed their cla s against lower league opponents Rotherham and ran out comfortable 4-1 winners to progre s to the second round of the Carling Cup.Posh bo s Gary Johnson Matt Murray Kids Jersey clearly bought into chairman Darragh MacAnthonys philosophy that one good cup run would help the clubs finances ma sively this season and played his strongest side for this first round League Cup match. The enforced removal of Grant McCann, due to international duty, was the only change from Saturdays line up, who beat Bristol Rovers comfortably, with the former Scunthorpe midfielder being replaced by Charlie Lee.Ronnie Moore also selected the strongest line-up available to him with nine absentees. Adam Le Fondre, the clubs star striker, continued to lead the attacking line alongside Marcus Marshall, who didnt start in The Millers first game of the 2010-2011 campaign. Exodus Geoghagon was unavailable for selection due to terms in his loan contract meaning he couldnt play against his parent club.It was Peterborough who started the brighter, dominating po se sion, and showing that their status as favourites was warranted. Aaron McLean had a shot deflected just wide and Ryan Bennett headed wide, after good work from Mendez-Laing, on the right hand side as Posh pre sed Rotherham back inside their own half.However, in just the ninth minute of the game Rotherham, who had been struggling to retain any sort of po se sion, took the lead. After a poor, rushed, clearance from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, the Posh defence was stretched and MARCUS MARSHALL gave the visitors the lead after his shot found a way past two defenders and Joe Lewis in the Peterborough United goal. The goal was somewhat against the run of play and immediately the home faithful were hoping that the teams confidence was not knocked too much after experience going behind early so many times last season in the Championship.Marshalls early goal had played into Rotherhams hands as they were able to play with a more defensive minded approach as they looked to soak up and pre sure Peterborough United had and The Posh were certainly finding it hard work creating any sort of clear-cut-chance against Moores well organised side.The pace of Craig Mackail-Smith is always a threat though and after a brilliant through ball from Brandon Tanev Jersey Aaron McLean was perfectly weighted for the run of Mackail-Smith, who capitalised on the away sides surprisingly high defensive line,Poshs number 12 had his chance buthis shot was saved well by veteran goal-keeper Andy Warrington. For all the work Mackail-Smith does for the team this aspect of his game must be improved and although the former Dagenham striker is currently low on confidence he should have equalised after McLean had created such a glorious goal-scoring opportunity.The visitors were frustrating Posh in open-play so it was of no surprise that the leveller came from a set-piece. George Boyd floated in a corner, which had clearly been worked on by Gary Johnsons men in training due to the fact Boyd signalled which type of cro s it would be with two bounces of the ball before placing the ball in the quadrant, towards the back-post and RYAN BENNETT met the cro s with a towering header which had too much Ron Francis Jersey power to be stopped by Warrington.Peterborough were clearly more confident now and their pa sing had more pace and precision to it which meant they were able to control the game again. This spell of continued pre sure was rewarded and just four minutes after equalising The Posh were in-front. This time a short corner caused problems and once George Boyd and James Wesolowski had exchanged pa ses near the right hand touchline Boyd cut inside onto his favoured left foot, rounded Le Fondre, and smashed a rasping low drive beyond Warrington at the near post.After taking the lead The Posh dominated much of the rest of the half putting together some lovely pa sing moves, especially in the middle of the pitch, where Wesolowski and Lee had immediately formed a good partnership, Ryan Bennett and Kelvin Langmead also looked comfortable with the ball at their feet, at centre back, meaning that there were numerous options for Posh in po se sion.The second half continued in the same manner as the first with Posh dominating proceedings. A series of corner kicks were causing mayhem in the Rotherham box but came to no avail with the Antti Niemi Jersey ball, unluckily, not falling to an attacking, blue-shirted, player.A lovely series of pa ses through the middle created another opportunity for Peterborough, shooting towards their own fans in the London Road end, and after Boyd had completed a one-two with Mendez-Laing on the edge of The Millers area the on-loan youngster found himself with a great opportunity to score but the on-rushing Andy Warrington managed to thwart the danger with a good save.Warringtons brilliance moments early was rather cancelled out by a poor bit of goalkeeping moments later. In a basic goal-kick Warrington had pushed his Rotherham side over to theleft hand side of the London Road pitch, after gesturing firmly for his team to move over, but his kick fell straight to a Posh player who released Mark Little, now in space on the right hand side, who raced away and unselfishly squared the ball back for AARON McLEAN to finish and put the game beyond any doubt.Gary Johnson, with the game seemingly won, turned his mind to Saturday and made his first two substitutes of the evening in the 67th minute of the match. Tommy Rowe was brought on to replace Nana at left back with Dave Hibbert making his debut up-front.A sickening tackle on the half way line, which unbelievably went without even a free-kick given by referee Grant Hegley, caused what looks like a severe injury to Aaron McLean. The Posh striker, who had scored moments earlier, was quickly stretchered off and carried away to the medical facility at London Road with a leg brace fitted. Initial reports are that the leg is not broken and the injury isnt as bad as first feared. I am sure I speak on behalf of all Peterborough United fans in wishing Aaron McLean a speedy recovery from what looks like a nasty injury. Lee Tomlin was brought on by Gary Johnson as his replacement.Adam Le Fondre showed his cla s by holding off Langmead and curling a shot from distance just wide of Lewis goal before Dave Hibbert almost marked his first Posh appearance with a goal after expertly controlling a Charlie Lee cro s and smashing a half volley goalwards but it was well saved by Warrington.The Posh put a glo s on their victory when CRAIG MACKAIL-SMITH notched his first of the season, from close-range, after some good work by Lee Tomlin to create the goal. Tomlin had made a good run down the right hand side Brian Dumoulin Women Jersey and squared the ball, in a similar fashion to Little did for McLean ea |
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