Goals from the Mac Attack either side of half time secured a hard fought victory against a determined MK Dons side on derby day at London Road.Many Bruce Bowen Jersey fans may not believe that this match is a true local derby, but the rivalry between the clubs is undoubtedly increasing match by match. Fuelled by competitive seasons in recent years, this match has been marked down as one of the biggest this season for the respective fans although it is a shame MK only brought 800 odd fans. A little more spice was added to the game following comments from the provocative MK manager Karl Robinson back in March.Posh bo s Gary Johnson claimed it wouldnt be hard to motivate his players for this match and the former Bristol City manager made 3 changes from the league cup tie against Swansea mid week. Skipper Grant McCann was declared fit to play and he partnered Mathew Gill in the centre of midfield who was making his first appearance for the club since re-joining the club on a months loan deal from Norwich City. Lee Tomlin, having impre sed with substitute appearances, was introduced to the starting line up too, by taking his place on the right hand side of midfield. Charlie Lee, Mendez-Laing and Seth Nana all dropped to the bench. Having been out injured for several weeks, Mark Little announced his comeback by being named on the substitute bench.Karl Robinson, who was experiencing his first derby match as MKs manager, also made 3 changes to his starting eleven from the Dons 3-1 defeat at Birmingham in the league cup last Tuesday night. Jabo Ibehre was brought in up front to partner Jermaine Easter whilst player-coach Dietmar Hamann was also introduced to the starting eleven in midfield in place of Carrington. Meanwhile, regular centre half Sean OHanlon picked up an injury against Birmingham so Gary MacKenzie came in for his first league start for Milton Keynes.It was Milton Keynes who came out the blocks flying, and it was Jermaine Easter who had Manu Ginobili Jersey the first chance of the game following a knock down from Jabo Ibehre on 6 minutes, but he scuffed his effort wide of the target as the Peterborough defence hadnt quite woken up yet. The visitors were getting a bit of luck down the left hand side, with both Dean Lewington and Luke Chadwick looking dangerous and energetic against the out of position Chris Whelpdale at right back.As time went by, the match turned into a midfield tu sle with clear cut changes few and far between. Matt Gill however was looking lively in the middle of the park, tacking on his man with ease and putting in perfectly timed sliding tackles. The wind was having an effect on proceedings by preventing any fluid football being played. Lee Tomlin had the first Posh effort on goal, but is effort was blocked.Craig Mackail-Smith was being his tirele s self again and it was him who capitalised on a slip from Gary Mackenzie but, after squaring the ball to Aaron Mclean, the Dons defence were able to clear their lines, Gary Mackenzie in particular making up for his earlier error with a last ditch sliding tackle.Having worked with Paul Ince for several years, it was no surprise that Karl Robinson would install similar tactics that MK are a sociated with. Every little knock and they were down on the floor, Dean Lewington in particular following a perfectly timed Lee Tomlin sliding tackle. Grant McCann for the Posh was struggling to contribute to the game whilst his midfield rival, Hamann, was showing his Premiership pedigree with several nice little touches and creating openings for the Dons.On 36 minutes however, the Posh took the lead when a through ball from Mclean played CRAIG MACKAIL-SMITH in, and after a mistake by Doumbe, he placed the ball beyond the reach of the Derrick White Jersey onrushing David Martin and into the bottom corner for his 7th of the campaign.Craig Mackail-Smithgave the Posh the leadThe lead lasted merely a minute though as the visitors equalised through a Peter Leven long throw into the box, which had been causing the hosts defence trouble all through the match. The Posh defence failed to clear their lines as the ball fell to DEAN LEWINGTON who blasted the ball, left footed, into the back of the net from 8 yards. Karl Robinson was clearly delighted and decided to celebrate in the faces of the home fans.Dean Lewington equalised a minute laterThe game had exploded into life and, moments after Lewingtons equalizer, Mackail-Smith was brought down by Doumbe just outside the area. Doumbe seemed to be the last man and the challenge deserved at least a yellow card but, after consulting his a sistant, referee Andy DUrso took no further action. Grant McCann took the resulting free kick but he will be disappointed with his shot on goal which went wide of the left post.Tomlin had his name in the book shortly afterwards after sliding in on Lewington. It looked like a perfectly legitimate challenge but Lewington was rolling around on the floor in agony before picking himself up to resume play again.Mackail-Smith had the last effort on goal, going on a mazy run before cutting inside and shooting on goal only for the ball to go blazing over the MK cro sbar. The teams went in at half time on level terms in a game which was very even in terms of chances on goal.Fans were still buying their half time pies as the second half had barely got going before Posh had re-established their goal advantage. In the 48th minute, a McCann corner to the back post was planted straight into the path of AARON MCLEAN who made no mistake and smashed his header past the goalkeeper.Mclean nodded home a McCann cornerThe crowd was really getting going now, well, the home crowd were anyway, and the Posh really should have extended their lead when Lee Tomlin, who was having a fantastic game, picked out an inch perfect chip into the path of McCann, but he could only fire directly at the MK keeper.Goalkeeper Martin was called into action again, this time denying Lee Tomlins left footed drive with a superb diving save. The visitors were on the back foot Sean Elliott Jersey and hugely under the cosh, so Dons manager Robinson changed the system by bringing off Hamann (who could barely run anymore) to replace him with Aaron Wilbraham. Wilbraham almost had an immediate impact on the game, but he drove his effort wide of the mark on 71 minutes.Lewis Guy had had a quiet game up to now for Milton Keynes, but it was his good work down the right hand side that created a glorious chance for the unmarked Gary Mackenzie but he blazed high and wide from just 10 yards. Mackenzie certainly won mi s of the match with this effort. Mark Little came on for the injured Tommy Rowe and Charlie Lee was introduced in place of the tiring Matt Gill for the Posh.Martin made a smart save to deny free kick specialist Grant McCann before the visitors made a late charge in search of that elusive equalizer. The Dons continued to throw bodies forward and, deep into stoppage time, Joe Lewis was forced into making a smart double save to deny substitute Aaron Wilbraham.The Posh put in a splendid second half performance and, in reflection, fully deserved the 3 points at the full time whistle which consequently lifts them up into 2nd place in the table. Defensively, the Posh were very solid and the Langmead-Zakuani partnership improving game by game, with Gabby Zakuani in particular impre sing the home faithful with a man of the match performace. Gary Johnson dedicated the win that keeps the 100% home record intact to their mothers and was full of praise for his teams second half display. Le s could be said about Karl Robinson who would now find it hard to justify his comments about Posh being nowhere near us this season and a weakened team.Posh: Lewis, Langmead, Zakuani, Rowe (sub Little 76min), Whelpdale, Gill (sub Lee 79min), McCann, Boyd, Tomlin (sub Mendez-Laing 89min), Mclean, Mackail-Smith. Patty Mills Jersey Unused subs: Collis, Hibbert, Davies, Nana.MK Dons: Martin, Lewington, Doumbe, Mackenzie (sub Chicken 85min), Easter, Guy, Woodards, Hammann (sub Wilbraham 66min), Ibehre, Leven, Chadwick. Unused subs: Searle, Carrington, G. Baldock, Howell, Flanagan.Attendance: 7,838 (818 Dons fans)
