Carlisle United’s manager, Paul Simpson, was full of praise in his post-match interview for Peterborough following the 1-1 draw at Brunton Park on Tuesday night.
The away side looked as if they would be leaving Cumbria with all three points, but a last-gasp Jordan Gibson equaliser would mean that the spoils would be shared.
The Posh were somewhat unlucky to only come away with just a point, with Gibson’s 96th minute equaliser the hosts’ only shot on target in the game. For long periods of the game, the away side dominated but couldn’t break down the resolute Carlisle defence until the 72nd minute, through a Ronnie Edwards bullet header.
Darren Ferguson would certainly have liked the deadlock to have been broken earlier, with his attack very much seeming to have an off-day. Jonson Clarke-Harris had a couple of very good first half chances but ultimately couldn’t get the better of Carlisle keeper Tomas Holy.
The result means Peterborough are now unbeaten in their last five matches and although three of those have been draws, sees the Posh cement their spot in 6th in the table. As for the Cumbrians, they now sit outside of the relegation zone purely on goal difference, and the last-gasp equaliser could potentially become crucial later on in the season.
Although that late equaliser certainly dampened the long-journey back to Cambridgeshere, Ferguson will be pleased with the words that Simpson used to describe his side.
Speaking after the draw, Simpson said:
“We had to weather a storm in the first half because Peterborough started like a house on fire. They are the best side we’ve come across this season. They are a strong football team for this level.
“But we stayed in the game. We rode our luck at times. The players worked their socks off. Towards the end of the first half we started to get some control in the game, but we didn’t work the keeper enough.
Given the Blues have also faced second-placed Oxford United and fifth-placed Stevenage, Ferguson can take something from those words as his side look to push forward for another tilt at promotion to the Championship.
Writer’s View
As a Carlisle fan, I’d take a point against Peterborough all day long! Although they weren’t quite able to see the game out, limiting us to just one shot on target all game, shows their strength both at the back as well as in the middle of the park. Although Simpson has stated that Carlisle missed out on a couple of ‘stonewall’ penalties which on another day may have been given, you’d also say that the Posh had one or two decisions not go their way as well as maybe not having their shooting boots on. I fully expect Peterborough to be right at the pointy end of the table come the end of the season and if able to see out games and push on, they could become a very dangerous side.
