FA Cup: Newport County given a lesson by classy Peterborough

The Posh fought back from two goals down to deservedly take the spoils and move to within one more win of potentially getting a Premier League big gun and a boost to the coffers.

County were dreaming of a (minor) scalp when they stunned the League One side with two goals inside the first 10 minutes.

Anthony Glennon curled in a free-kick and then Kai Whitmore finished calmly but Peterborough then bossed matters.

They pulled a goal back through Abraham Odoh on the half hour and then, after controversially being denied a leveller (more of that below), got back to 2-2 with a thumping Joel Randall finish in the 71st minute.

County were clinging on and extra time looked possible but then Ricky-Jade Jones controlled a shot, rounded Nick Townsend and slotted, then he scored a second deep into added time.

Here are some talking points from Rodney Parade…

DESPAIR: County's Cameron Evans after Peterborough hit the front (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

THE BETTER TEAM WON

There is no need for a big inquest after such a defeat, it was a game that merely showed the gulf in quality between a side tipped in pre-season to be a promotion contender in League One and a team fancied to be in the League Two relegations scrap.

Peterborough, play-off semi-finalists for the last two years, have had their injury worries this season but are well-drilled and boast serious attacking talent.

Even at 2-0 they pinned County back and got at them – arguably they deserved to be ahead at the break.

It wasn’t a case of the Exiles going into their shells, they were just outclassed and wary of being cut by the Posh runners.

Matt Baker and Cameron Evans were given serious examinations by the fast feet of Odoh and Kwame Poku and will be relieved that there is no midweek fixture.

The Peterborough wingers were lively throughout and County’s Bobby Kamwa, Kieron Evans and Michael Spellman should be inspired by them; Odoh and Poku took their men on, and often beat them, but also had end product with plenty of crosses into the box.

It was to County’s credit that they got to the final quarter with their lead intact but there was only one winner after Randall’s strike.

Had they not struck late through Jones then it’s highly likely that they would have in added time.

“I’m fortunate that I’ve got so much talent at the top end of the pitch,” said Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson. “At the moment, quite honestly, we’re just going to have to outscore teams.”

County are unlikely to face a more potent attacking team for the rest of the season.

They’ve missed out on a money-spinning cup run but that’s down to the luck of the draw a year after they landed home ties with the National League trio of Oldham, Barnet and Eastleigh before landing Manchester United.

DENIED: Peterborough should have been given an equaliser in the first half (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

TROUBLE IN THE NORTH

County were raging that they weren’t given a goal against Chesterfield when they felt opposition goalkeeper Max Thompson carried the ball over the line at 1-0 in what turned out to be a 3-0 loss.

There was more controversy at the same end when the Exiles got away with one against Peterborough.

It was a bizarre incident with a corner swung in and, for those of us on the Riverside Stand side, the net rippling.

There were no wild Peterborough celebrations and it took a while for the penny to drop in the away section that the ball was in the back of the goal.

I didn’t have a clue what had gone on but the linesman should have, with footage showing that Cameron Evans failed to get a good connection with a clearing header at the near post, it glanced off the defender, hit Nick Townsend and went in.

The television pictures show no gap at the time of the goal and then, cunningly/outrageously (delete as you see fit), a big gap when the referee Stephen Martin is explaining the decision to the frustrated visitors.

The result means that not a lot will be made about it but this was one that is harder for the officials to justify.

There was nothing clear about the ‘goal’ against Chesterfield so the benefit of doubt went to the Spireites but this has to go down as a clanger given that we always see the assistants checking the goals before kick-off.

“It was a goal, the footage shows that clearly,” said Ferguson. “It was a bit surreal.

“I don’t think the referee knew what to do and the linesman didn’t help him. He’s made a human error.

“He said it went in the side of the net, but it’s clearly gone in. It’s a mistake. If we’d lost 2-1 it would have been talked about a lot more, but I wouldn’t have used it as an excuse.”

DOUBLED: Kai Whitmore slotted for County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

MIDFIELD CONCERNS… FOR A WEEKEND

County are already without Noah Mawene until December after the Preston loanee strained a hamstring and they were stretched in midfield.

A cautious approach was taken with experienced midfielders Bryn Morris, who played with a knock against Fleetwood and was left out of the matchday squad, and Aaron Wildig, who stayed on the bench after a back issue disrupted his week.

The ability to name a nine-man bench meant a welcome return for Shane McLoughlin but it would have taken very specific circumstances for the full-back/midfielder to come on.

The prospect of extra time meant that the Irishman couldn’t come on with 15 or 20 minutes to go as there was the danger of pushing him towards 45 to 50 minutes, which would risk undoing the careful comeback from a knee injury.

All of the above meant that County went with a midfield diamond in a 4-4-2 to start with young Newcastle prospect Jamie Miley sitting, Kieron Evans and Anthony Glennon wider and Kai Whitmore further forward.

It was a selection made through necessity that was lacking in experience, and it was a department that struggled to impose themselves.

However, this was very much a short-term issue with Morris and Wildig now ready for the return of League Two and McLoughlin, potentially as a midfielder rather than full-back, soon to be in the mix after more training minutes.

County are 14 games into their League Two campaign but are arguably still looking to get the balance right for the midfield trio – Morris/Miley ‘4’, Wildig ‘8’, Whitmore ‘10’ for Tranmere?