Peterborough performance disappoints Grant McCann

Posted Sunday, February 04, 2018 by PA

Peterborough United Grant McCann admitted it was back to the drawing board following a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Southend United.

An early Jason Demetriou penalty made it back-to-back wins for new Shrimpers boss Chris Powell, leaving McCann angry with both his own team and the officials who he said incorrectly ruled out two Andrew Hughes goals for offside.

McCann, who singled out central midfielder Chris Forrester and Anthony Grant for criticism, said: “We were poor from start to finish. We did not do the basics right.

“The difference was our two midfield players did not pick up a second ball all day. Them two need to get their act together. It’s not good enough.

“We were so slow and sloppy – it’s back to the drawing board.

“We have 17 games left now. Every time we get an opportunity to pounce we let it slip.

“We put balls into the box but did not have the aggression to go and win it. I’m really disappointed with the boys.

“They outplayed us, but we scored two perfectly good goals. Every time we have that referee (Dean Whitestone) it seems to be a horror show.

“The first one he is a yard on, the second one he is probably level. It’s frustrating but we probably did not deserve two goals.

“I’m sure the officials will put their hands up.”

Demetriou fired in after just seven minutes after Peterborough goalkeeper Jonathan Bond caught the leg of Stephen McLaughlin inside the area after he beat him to a loose ball.

Play-off chasing Posh would have levelled if League One’s top scorer Jack Marriott had not been denied either side of half-time by visiting goalkeeper Mark Oxley when through on goal.

But Southend held on for a first away since October despite central defender John White being carried off on a stretcher after attempting a last-ditch tackle on Marriott.

A delighted Powell said: “The game had everything. I’ve seen a side that has character, that has resilience – I’ve seen that in abundance.

“I’m very proud of them. I’ve only known them 10 days and they’ve given me everything.

“Peterborough is a tough game and I’m very pleased with their application. The clean sheet I’m most pleased about as we’ve not had many of those, and we could have had a couple of more goals.

“I’m really, really pleased with the performance.

“The players have been down, naturally, because of the results. It happens at every level no matter who you are.

“I knew I had to go in and get to know people as soon as possible, find out what they are good at and really harness that as much as I can.

“It will be a tough game next playing against the league leaders who are a very good team, but we will be right and we will be ready. I’m hoping we will get Roots Hall behind us.”