Controversy At The Death In Posh Loss
Peterborough United suffered a 2-1 defeat at Burton Albion in Sky Bet League One action and lost defender Gabi Zakuani to a straight red card during a nightmare spell at the Pirelli Stadium, but what angered all connected with the club happened in the final moments of the encounter.Jermaine Anderson rifled the ball into the roof of the net after Jon Taylor had seen his initial effort come back off the post yet referee Mr Salisbury ruled out the goal for an alleged and hard to spot shirt tug by Taylor.
The decision left boss Dave Robertson bitterly disappointed, providing the video evidence to support his valid claims.
After a poor first period, Posh found themselves 2-0 down, but after losing Zakuani, Robertson's men put in a spirited display and caused problems despite their numerical disadvantage and probably deserved a point for their late efforts.
Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick made the first save of the game on 12 minutes as he denied Damien McCrory's effort from 20-yards after a header away from Tobi Adebayo-Rowling lacked distance.
Gabi Zakuani was well positioned to block a Mark Duffy effort on 27 minutes after Posh struggled to clear a spell of Burton pressure.
Stuart Beavon was inches away from converting an excellent Edwards' cross moments later, but he couldn't direct his volley past Alnwick.
The home side got themselves in front on 36 minutes as Nasser El KHAYATI finished off a slick Burton move by firing past Alnwick after a neat lay-off from Stuart Beavon.
Harry Anderson tested McLaughlin from distance on 38 minutes after a forceful run, but nothing appeared to be working for Posh in the attacking areas with Burton fairly comfortable at the back.
Souleymane Coulibaly, often isolated in attack, did twist and turn on the edge of the box a few moments later, but under pressure, he curled wide as he lost his footing.
After a half-time interval featuring a shower of biblical proportions, the second half got underway in sunshine.
Duffy fired over from 30-yards for the Brewers on 47 minutes after Posh squandered possession.
The lively Coulibaly tricked his way into the box on 49 minutes and forced a save out of the Albion goalkeeper, who saved the low left-foot shot with his legs.
The lead was doubled on 54 minutes as Stuart BEAVON tucked home from close-range after Alnwick had parried the initial effort from range.
Posh were reduced to 10-men on 58 minutes as Zakuani was shown a straight red card for lunging into Thiele on the half-way line. The referee had no option, Zakuani was nowhere near the ball and took out the man.
Posh made a double change on 62 minutes with Jon Taylor and Conor Washington replacing Bostwick and H. Anderson.
Taylor immediately tested McLaughlin with a dipping volley with his first touch. On 66 minutes, Posh reduced the arrears and what a special goal it was. Marcus MADDISON firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner from fully 25-yards after collecting a pass from Coulibaly.
Dave Robertson made his final change on 72 minutes with Shaun Brisley replacing Adebayo-Rowling.
An acrobatic over head kick from Coulibaly was inches away from levelling the scores on 76 minutes after an intelligent header back across from substitute Washington.
Posh were caught on the counter attack on 79 minutes with El Khayati finding the side-netting after turning past Almeida-Santos.
With 10-men, Posh were now causing all sorts of problems with Maddison hugely influential down the right hand side.
McLaughlin, the Albion keeper, was booked for time wasting on 85 minutes at a goal kick.
Seven minutes of added time was signalled by the fourth official, which gave heart to the travelling faithful as their team tried to rescue a point.
Coulibaly was inches away from making it 2-2 after connecting with a Jon Taylor cross but he fired wide of the near post.
Alnwick went up for a late corner kick, but nothing came of it however there was real controversy moments later as first Jon Taylor struck the post and then Anderson buried the rebound high into the net, but referee Mr Salisbury ruled it out for an alleged shirt tug.
Posh were left furious with the decision and the video evidence supported their anger and disappointment with no obvious infringement.
Burton: McLaughlin, Edwards, Cansdell-Sheriff, Mousinho, Weir, Beavon (sub Palmer 60min) , El Khayati (sub Akins 87min), McCrory, Naylor, Thiele (sub Joachim 70min), Duffy. Unused subs: Matthews, Reilly, O'Connor, Binnom-Williams.
Posh: Alnwick, Zakuani, Bostwick (sub Taylor 62min), Maddison, Almeida-Santos, J. Anderson, H. Anderson (sub Washington 62min), Davey, Adebayo-Rowling (sub Brisley 72min), Payne, Coulibaly. Unused subs: Henry, Gormley, Angol, Sadlier.
Half-time: Burton Albion 1-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Burton Albion 2-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 3,407 (818 Posh fans)