Peterborough Utd 3 - Barnsley 2
I went along to this the other night, Forrester started for the home side, Hourihane & Long did for Barnsley.
Peterborough had a string of CBs out so started a midfielder at CB, with Forrester playing at the base of their midfield there the guy moved to the back usually would, so operating much deeper than usual, and with P'boro intent on playing it out from the back, with FBs pushed forward and CBs coming wide of the box to receive it from the keeper, he saw plenty of the ball, and in the first half, one attempted lofted longer ball apart and one instance where he got his stud caught in the turf as he was about to control near the sideline, and it ran out of play, the guy never gave it away, he was constantly involved and granted operating in an area where it was pretty key not to give it away, he was composed and kept the play flowing very well. When found in tighter spots when he needed to play more difficult passes, quick round the corner flicks etc, he always found not only a shirt, but knocked it in to feet.
It was his left footed ball along the surface in the first half down the outside of the opposing FB which opened the play and led to his side going ahead, albeit there were a couple of more passes exchanged before the shot on goal it was a lovely bit of vision on a night when the game was at times played with more gusto than guile. He was trying the same ball again, one the one occassion he did give it away in play, so he had seen something amiss in the FBs starting position.
Didn't go in for any challenges, tended to shield players into less dangerous areas and hand them off to defenders, only recall him going up for one header which he won but it landed to an opponent. To my raised eyebrow anyway, he was replaced with fifteen to play and his side two goals up, by an impact player, and his side conceded almost immediately and finished the game under pressure, noticably less capable of holding possession than earlier. He did get a big round of applause from all round the ground though as he jogged off.
Carried himself in the warm up, right by where I was sitting, and throughout, with an air of confidence, almost a little edge of arrogance to it at times, like he knows he is already one of the best at the club he has joined who are now one point outside the playoffs from lower mid table not so long ago, and good luck to him. Saw him once in Limerick for Pats and am delighted for how its presently developing for him.
For the visitors, Hourihane is clearly an important player for Barnsley in the middle, and he did fine, not their night, but he kept at it, all left foot, and in the second half forced a few balls which maybe weren't on as his side chased it, giving it away each time three or four in a row, which he got upset with himself about. His moment of the evening was his goal from the spot from a decision which could be argued either way. There was controversy, home end were not happy and it was at their end, and there was gamesmanship from the home keeper, lots of it, had the ref re check the ball was on its spot more than once, lots of on the line movement, lots of chat at Hourihane, who stood dead still throughout, looked only at the ball and then placed it in the corner beating the keepers dive the right way to square the game at 1-1. Then he trotted over to the fallen keeper and began goading him, I was laughing hard at this stage. Those around me found it less funny, he carried on till all and sundry were upset and as he set out back to halfway turned and gave one final 'hand gesture' which almost took the collective sanity from his opponents and home end simultaneously. Very composed spot kick though, good lad.
Long played CB for Barnsley and despite being 3-2 down wasn't standing out in a bad way, to me at least, he likes having the ball, looks for a pass rather than a clearance most times and brought it out a few times, once skipping round a closing striker when doing so, very confident in that respect. Late on while pushed up his touch failed him and there was so much space in behind he had to chase it and he lunged, you could hear the impact on the Peterborough player who lay still after it, it was no surprise when the card flashed red from the ref.
Peterborough Utd 1 - Shrewsbury 1
I went to this last Saturday and Forrester started again, and is definitely operating at the base of the diamond these days, but did get forward a bit more this time.
A lot of my previous report on the Barnsley game could be said again, the teams focal point in setting up the play and often in possession, and overall was very solid in this respect again, didn't give it away needlessly apart from the first time he was on the ball about thirty seconds in, he dwelt on it and was closed down blind side but his team mates had read it and swarmed the player who dispossessed him immediately, and it passed. Very soon after he got the ball in the same area and the crowd were nervous but he was the most composed guy in the ground, got his head up, took his time and passed it.
Two first half stand out moments, both passes, one he took from his right back, turned, looked up and hit it straight onto the chest of his right winger with the perfect diagonal. Windy showery bad day to try such a pass and the applause was well deserved. The other was from possession well inside his own half in the middle of the park when his striker darted between the opposing CBs and he found the run perfectly with a straight pass, the striker was flagged offside and it must have been very close.
Went for three headers, won one and headed it to a team mate. Put a couple of challenges in, once he won it back inside Shrewsburys half, jinked and beat a closing player, then jinked again but it was nicked away. Again more likely to shut the passing option down rather than close the player and did so well when he read and intercepted a pass in the second half and charged forward, he was brought down outside the area drawing a dangerous free kick.
Collins was subbed off for the visitors after an hour, replaced by a lively McAlinden who's runs on the ball were nice to watch.
The point, although not what the home fans wanted did move Peterborough up to fifth, two of the starting players from the midfield have been dropped for today's game but Forrester starts again.