[Archived] News Article -> 2012/13 Match Report: Peterborough United 1 Rovers 4

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Peterborough United	(0) 1 – 4 (3)	Blackburn Rovers
Tomlin 88		Formica 3, Rhodes 20, 39, 79
Referee: C. Pawson		Attendance: 5,997

With the game well and truly up for the home side, Darren Ferguson threw on Jermaine Anderson, a 16-year-old who was making his senior debut for the club and whose name and face would have been largely unknown to many of the home fans. Henning Berg responded with a double substitution which brought Nuno Gomes and Morten Gamst Pedersen into the fray — two internationals who can boast over 150 caps between them — and enabled him to withdraw Jordan Rhodes, the £8 million striker whose hat-trick had helped to demolish "The Posh". Such is the gulf between the clubs in terms of financial clout and at London Road that difference was clearly evident in the gulf between the teams on the pitch.

In just two weeks Henning Berg has completely transformed the Rovers on the pitch. Players who had under-performed under Steve Kean suddenly look reborn. Nowhere is that more evident than in the performance of Mauro Formica. The Argentinean international has struggled to make any impact since his arrival at the club. Too often he has been the invisible man, making little or no contribution to games. However, under Berg he looks a completely different figure. At the heart of everything, Formica opened the scoring after just three minutes to set the Rovers on the way to their most impressive performance of the season.

Berg kept faith the with the same line-up that had started against Birmingham City while Gael Givet and Colin Kazim-Richards returned from injury to take their places on the bench.

Peterborough opened the game in lively fashion and forced a succession of corners in the opening two minutes. However, with their first attack of the game the Rovers took the lead on three minutes. The move was initiated by a powerful run down the right wing by Adam Henley and his subsequent cross was dummied by Formica and allowed to run on to Rhodes, whose shot was blocked. Fortunately, the ball ran kindly for the Rovers and fell to the feet of Formica, who coolly slotted the ball home.

The game continued to ebb and flow, but there was an assurance about the Rovers' play which has been missing for so long. Both Formica and Ruben Rochina had decent efforts on the home goal, whilst Henley did well at the other end to clear a dangerous-looking situation.

It was ironic that the Rovers' second goal should arrive after another purple patch by the home side. The goal was simplicity itself as Rochina worked the ball out to Martin Olsson on the left flank. The Swedish international raced down the wing before firing in a perfect cross to the near post. Whilst the home defence hesitated, Rhodes nipped in front of a defender and headed home off the defender's arm to give the Rovers a 2–0 lead after 20 minutes.

Although Peterborough enjoyed plenty of possession, they rarely looked like breaking down the Rovers defence and Paul Robinson was largely untroubled throughout the first half. A tremendous block by Scott Dann snuffed out one attack and typified the improved work ethic which Berg appears to have instilled in the squad. It was noticeable that the team are now prepared to press the opposition when they are in possession and this constant harrying of the home side led them to give the ball away on countless occasions.

The Rovers' third goal, on 39 minutes, was another gem. The much-improved Danny Murphy fed Rochina, who was advancing into the Peterborough half, and the young Spaniard hit a wonderful defence-splitting pass to Rhodes, who had got on the blind side of the defender. The Scottish international striker advanced to the area and then beat Bobby Olejnik on his near post with a delightful effort which saw him almost pass the ball into the net with both power and precision.

To their credit Peterborough tried to make a game of it in the second half, but the truth of the matter is that they were simply outclassed in every department.

Saido Berahino came closest to getting a goal back for the home side, but his well-struck effort was tipped over by Robinson.

Rhodes almost clinched his hat-trick on the hour mark when Formica fed him with the perfect pass and the former Huddersfield man rounded the 'keeper but fired narrowly wide from a tight angle.

The Rovers then put the home side under intense pressure as a shot from Rhodes was deflected away towards the far post, where Markus Olsson stormed in and crashed his effort against the woodwork. The ball rebounded into the goalmouth and Rochina eventually played it back into the path of Martin Olsson, whose fierce drive was tipped around the post by Olejnik.

From the resultant corner the Rovers scored their fourth goal on 79 minutes. A cross to the back post was met by the head of Scott Dann, who steered the ball to an unmarked Rhodes, who headed home from close range.

Berg introduced the vastly experienced Nuno Gomes and Pedersen at this point, whilst Rhodes left to thunderous applause from the Rovers' travelling fans.

The Rovers might well have come away from London Road with a more emphatic scoreline as Pedersen netted when adjudged to be marginally offside and Gomes' goalbound effort deflected off the legs of Olejnik onto the inside of the post and then bounced away to safety.

The gloss was take off an excellent performance when Rochina produced a typically careless piece of play that presented Lee Tomlin with the opportunity to snatch a consolation goal with a fine shot. Robinson raced from his goal to lambast the Rovers' youngster after some excellent defensive work was undone by a moment's carelessness.

Undoubtedly this was the most convincing performance of the season. The players are now beginning to look more of a team and there is a definite identifiable pattern to the play with Ruben Rochina providing that vital link between the midfield and Jordan Rhodes.

Defensively the Rovers looked fairly sound. The introduction of Adam Henley at right-back has proved to be a revelation and has introduced some much-needed pace down the right flank. Martin Olsson again showed a welcome return to form and linked up well with his brother Markus on the left wing. Scott Dann was the pick of the centre-backs and defended well throughout and played his part in the fourth goal for the Rovers. Although Grant Hanley was generally sound, one cannot help but feel that his lack of pace is a problem and at times he gets himself into the wrong position and is then forced to either make a last-ditch tackle or give away a free-kick to rectify the situation.

In midfield Danny Murphy continued to show the type of form that won him such praise at Fulham. He was continually prompting with some inch-perfect passes which set up numerous attacks. Dickson Etuhu again provided the midfield anchor which enabled others to get forward and create problems for the home defence. Although he doesn't always seem to be fully in control of the ball, there is no doubting that he is proving effective and under Berg his partnership with Murphy looks far more impressive than under the previous management.

Markus Olsson provided plenty of pace down the left wing and formed a promising partnership with his brother. He was very unfortunate not to score when his effort hit the woodwork and was a constant thorn in the side of the home defence.

Mauro Formica had another hugely impressive game. A constant threat with his link-up play with Rochina and Rhodes, Formica was also prepared to battle back in midfield and made several tackles to thwart the home side as they tried to get forward. Like Rochina, Formica has an eye for goal and produced a cool finish to give the Rovers an early lead.

Jordan Rhodes is beginning to look a far better player under Berg because the Norwegian has quickly understood that Rhodes needs service in and around the penalty area and not on the half-way line or running down the channels. He is now getting a better supply of crosses and passes into the box on which to feed and as he demonstrated in this game with the right service he will score goals. Rhodes is a penalty-box predator — more of an Andy McEvoy type of striker than an Alan Shearer — and the signs are that Berg is fashioning a team that will present him with the type of service he needs.

These are early days, of course, but the signs are very promising that a resurgence may well be about to get underway under the astute leadership of Henning Berg. The difference the Norwegian has made in a couple of weeks has been nothing short of remarkable. Long may it continue.

Teams

Peterborough United

Bobby Olejnik; Craig Alcock (Jermaine Anderson 76), Shaun Brisley, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Joe Newell; Michael Bostwick, Grant McCann, Danny Swanson (Kane Ferdinand 64); George Boyd, Saido Berahino, Lee Tomlin
Subs not used: Joe Day (gk), Gaby Zakuani, Emile Sinclair, Jaanai Gordon-Hutton, Jonson Clarke-Harris
Manager: Darren Ferguson

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson; Adam Henley, Scott Dann, Grant Hanley, Martin Olsson; Danny Murphy (Jason Lowe 60), Dickson Etuhu; Mauro Formica, Ruben Rochina, Markus Olsson (Morten Gamst Pedersen 82); Jordan Rhodes (Nuno Gomes 82)
Subs not used: Jake Kean (gk), Gael Givet, Simon Vukcevic, Colin Kazim-Richards
Manager: Henning Berg

Bookings

Peterborough United – Joe Newell

Blackburn Rovers – None


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