Peterborough 3 Ipswich 1

Posh fans enjoyed last night! Can a phoenix rise from the ashes?

Since taking over, Jim Gannon has a 50% success rate. His two home fixtures have ended in wins whilst his two away fixtures have ended in defeat. It may not be the sort of form that will see us escape from the relegation zone but like Jim has said previously, it`s all about extra effort designed to give us hope for the future.

For the fixture against near-neighbours Ipswich, Jim decided to give his most recent signing, Liam Dickinson, his debut and it was a move that was to pay dividends. Elsewhere, Craig Mackail-Smith returned to the starting eleven with his co-striker, Aaron Mclean, dropping to the bench. Also making a start was Josh Simpson. Absent through injury were Gabriel Zakuani and Charlie Lee.

Before the fixture Posh had only won once in ten attempts but were able to boast that they`d not lost to Ipswich Town in two previous meetings this season.

However, it was the visitors that got off to the better start with Posh struggling to get going in those initial opening exchanges and when Ipswich took the lead, in the ninth minute, it was probably the wake-up call Posh needed.

The goal, scored by Daryl Murphy, with a header from a Grant Leadbitter cross prompted a spell of Ipswich pressure that could have seen Posh put out of the game early on. David Healy and Daryl Murphy both saw Joe Lewis save goal bound efforts whilst Norris saw a decent effort go wide.

Slowly getting into the game, Craig Mackail-Smith saw a shot, at the second attempt with the first being blocked, saved by the Ipswich keeper, Lee-Barrett. But the night was to soon end for Mackail-Smith as he limped off injured to be replaced by Aaron Mclean.

On the stroke of half time Joe Lewis was called into action again, this time to produce a save from yet another Daryl Murphy shot.

After such a poor start, Posh had slowly worked their way back into the game and the second half was to see the side produce the kind of spirited play demanded by Gannon. With only two minutes of the second half played the debut boy, Liam Dickinson, had leveled matters up superbly slotting home, from a fair way out, after being fed the ball by Lee Frecklington.

A Joe Lewis save, from Daryl Murphy, kept matters all square and just past the hour mark, sixty three minutes to be precise, Posh were ahead. Liam Dickinson, making himself and instant hero with the London Road faithful, provided a great ball to the advancing Lee Frecklington who fired home. At 2-1 up could Posh hang on for a second consecutive home win?

The answer was an emphatic yes! Ipswich Town had little to offer and a superb night was rounded off when Craig Morgan headed home a cross from Lee Frecklington to give Posh an unassailable 3-1 lead.

With Sheffield United visiting London Road on Saturday can Jim Gannon keep this momentum going and Posh secure a rare second win on the tot in Championship football? I wouldn`t bet against it, would you?





Join Vital Peterborough

It's easy to register , simply click the link and enjoy getting involved (you can even win prizes!)

Message Board To visit the message board, click here. Get involved This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Peterborough.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.