It is lucky that Notts strung together that excellent run of results
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It’s a scary thought to think that had Notts lost one of those games that they won a few weeks ago, we would be sitting here tonight working out all the permutations that would save us from the drop on the last day of the season. Thankfully it is our next opponents Cheltenham Town who have the mathematics to do.
When I found out a few days ago that Premiership referee Uriah Rennie was to take charge of the game at London road, I should have know from past experience of Premiership refs what to expect.
Today, instead of midfielders running the show for either side, Mr Rennie took centre stage and did enough to probably affect the outcome of the game. I know some people get annoyed when you moan about referees but this one was a genuinely bad (from a Notts Fan’s point of view anyway!). He gave Peterborough about as much as he could give them without giving them absolutely everything. Why do all Premiership standard referees seem so bad?
But – as always – the record books won’t say that Notts were unfairly treated by the referee it will simply say ‘Peterborough 1-0 Notts County’.
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Minutes after Paul Heffernan had squandered a chance, Stallard lobbed the home keeper Mark Tyler early on but the ball missed the goal.
Peterborough were very nearly ahead soon after when a parry from Saul Deeney hit defender Nicky Fenton and looked to be heading back over the Notts keeper into the net but Deeney spared any blushes with another save.
It was another deflection down the other end that nearly had the visitors in the lead. Paul Heffernan ran towards the United goalkeeper who was about to clear the ball. The clearance struck Heffernan but bounced just wide of the goal.
Stallard had a chance, which went straight across the face of the goal. It just needed another player to be coming in and it would have been in the back of the net.
Peterborough struck the angle just before the break and so the teams went in at 0-0
HALF TIME: 0-0
It was so frustrating to watch and Notts throw away so many chances after controlling the majority of the first half.
The visitors came out in the same vein of form in the second half
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You could see the way it was going, Uriah Rennie was still awarding Posh dubious free kicks and it capped it all off when on 73 minutes, Peterborough were awarded a penalty for a supposed foul. It was down the other end so I couldn’t really see the incident but seeing the reaction of the Notts players, who all crowded around the referee, they clearly thought it was a dive.
It didn’t really matter in the end as Deeney made a good save from the spot kick to deny Andy Clarke.
The Magpies have only had two penalties awarded against them all season – neither has been scored. The other being away at Stockport when the Hatters hit the post.
Fenton, obviously annoyed about the penalty, was taken off by the Notts Boss (presumably to stop him being sent off!) and was replaced by Simon Ramsden.
Danny Allsopp was brought on in place of Michael Brough but the Aussie never got into the game and wasted an excellent chance late in the game.
Peterborough went close later on from Jelleyman and Clarke before Peterborough finally found the back of the net on 73 minutes when substitute Andy Scott hit the back of the net after Notts failed to clear a corner.
Just to rub salt in the already sore wounds, Notts were reduced to
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Notts had a few late opportunities to salvage something from the game but none were taken so Notts went home empty handed for the 3rd time in 3 matches.
FULL TIME: 1-0
Notts have now equalled their worst away record for 6 years. They have won 3 away from home all season, which they last did when they were relegated from the 2nd Division in the 96/97 season.
They have also now only scored one goal in 7½ hours of football played away from Meadow Lane.