The Opponent: Peterborough United
2 games from Wembley. I sense the excitement is not quite the same as what it was a couple of years back. I think we had at least half of the attendance away against Barnet, possibly more, and I’m pretty sure we had 11’000+ for the return leg. The Wembley novelty may well have worn off after a couple of wholly unsuccessful marches to the arches but I still remain as up for it as ever. There used to be an opinion that the Di Canio factor would put perhaps 1500 on the gate, perhaps the home tie will put this to the test. I have had a day off work today due to having a big toe that looks not dissimilar to the type of rancid purple penis you might see on that Embarrassing Bodies program. It involved a metal rimmed pew (with foldable legs), and a flight of stairs in an old church at the bottom of Vic Hill, the only thing missing was Sid James and Kenneth Williams. Being the martyr I am, its back to work tomorrow, taking in the sights of Malmesbury, Redhouse, Cirencester and er, Walcot.
After losing just one of their first 13 league games, Posh have won four of their last 16 in League One to seriously dampen their ambition of an instant return to the Championship. Only 5,297 came to watch Peterborough's most recent Saturday home game, a 3-0 win over Tranmere, compared to 6,956 at their last Saturday game in October, which was a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury. If you ask Mark Copper how we will approach this game he would be likely to tell you “the same as any other”, but with a team full of young players that may not get many chances to play at Wembley in a relatively short career, you would hope they would bust several guts in taking the opportunity to prove themselves at football’s biggest stage, and I would have thought despite playing them twice so far this season already, Cooper himself will always have a point to prove to his ex employers. I want to pay £25 to park my car on someone’s drive near the stadium, I want to pay £11 for a pissy bottle of Carlsberg and a horse burger, I even want to sit on The M25 wondering why I made the journey in the first place, but most importantly, I want to win, every game we play! COME ON SWINDON!
Weather or Not? – As I type this my conservatory is feeling the effects of whatever storm the Yanks throw at us this time. It seems after a dry start at dawn, showers will move in for most of the day, some heavy and prolonged. The heavier rain should ease to showers in the evening before clear skies taking over in the last couple of hours of the day. Temperature holding between 6-8 degrees, strong southerly wind gusting to 40mph. Sounds like a great day for football.
Where the opposition gather – http://www.theposhforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24479Through fear of upsetting the Posh fans (in the same way I upset the Shrewsbury fans), I won’t make out Peterborough is a soulless, famous for fuck all dreary unwelcoming hovel. They know this already.
Last 6 – LLLWWL
They have served us both – Cup tied Nicky Ajose, John Sheffield, Kevin Dearden, Claude Gnapka, Mark Cooper, Don Heath, Steve Jenkins, Lloyd Opara, Fred Laycock, David Ball, Bobby Barnes, Kenny Alan, Graz, Trevor Benjamin, Sol Davis, Jim Barron
The Odds - Peterborough Evens Draw 12/5 Swindon 11/4 The fact we have failed to keep a clean sheet in our last 12 outings in all competitions and our shit way from home added in with Peterborough’s ability to score for fun and it seems the bookies are predicting a resounding home win, Darn the naysayers.
The Son Says – Confident as ever, we will win this 2-0 and begin the first phase of banishing his Wembley demons.
The Prediction – We will go to London Road and shock the watching world with a thumping 1-0 victory, Nile Ranger with a stoppage time goal in front of 7’788, 555 from Swindon.
And Finally – Darren Ferguson, you are a cunt.
