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Hereford United lost for their seventh out of eight games on the road this season with a 2-0 defeat against Peterborough this afternoon at London Road. Craig Mackail-Smith scored in either half in front of 6,087 to send The Posh into the play-off positions, but pushes The Bulls down to bottom on goals scored.
Following the cruel defeat at Millwall in mid-week, Graham Turner opted to change the team about. Sam Gwynne replaced Simon Johnson on right midfield, whilst Nick Chadwick's one match suspension allowed Steve Guinan to return to spearhead the attack. The home side named Joe Lewis in between the sticks; the keeper was recently called up to the England squad, whilst pantomine villain Aaron McLean started up front alongside MacKail-Smith.
The early exchanges saw Posh go close through Chris Whelpdale after fine-work inside the area from Mackail-Smith saw the former Dagenham striker turn Karl Broadhurst and send a cross across the danger area where Whelpdale slid in to shoot over from close-range. Hereford were dealt a blow early on when Bruno N'Gotty went down inside the box, and was consequently stretchered off; Dean Beckwith replaced him at the heart of the defence. A strong tackle from Charlie Lee saw him win possession in the middle of the park and find Mackail-Smith who waltzed past Beckwith before firing into the home end from 20 yards. United's first chance fell to Toumani Diagouraga, who glided a Gwynne free-kick goalwards but Welsh international Craig Morgan headed the ball out for a corner.
The Bulls had a large stint of pressure on the Peterborough defence with Clint Easton having a goalbound shot blocked in the six-yard box after a Gwynne corner had found him. Whelpdale, like N'Gotty, had an early end to his half coming off injured with Shaun Batt his replacement. Bradley Hudson-Odoi turned quickly after a Kris Taylor throw-in before firing over the bar from the edge of the box, before United had their best chances of the half. A powerful Easton corner was headed goalwards by Beckwith, but Lewis made a fine save to tip the ball over the bar. From the following corner, Hudson-Odoi met Easton's cross but his header was wide. Taylor then struck a free-kick over the crossbar, before the home side were awarded a penalty with ten minutes remaining in the half. McLean got to the by-line after running down the right-wing and he swang a cross into the danger area. Both Broadhurst and Mackail-Smith challenged for the ball, with the former adjudged to have bought down the latter according to the linesman, although United's players were adamant it was never a spot-kick. Mackail-Smith stepped up from 12 yards and saw his initial strike saved by Darren Randolph, but he made no mistake with the rebound to send the home side into the half-time with a slender lead.
United had played the better stuff in the first-half, but didn't quite have the end product and this again proved the case in the second-half. Paul Coutts slammed a shot goalwards which Randolph blocked, whilst a fine attacking move nearly resulted in an equaliser for United. Taylor started it just inside the opponents half, finding Hudson-Odoi who passed to Guinan. The experienced striker saw the run of Taylor, who had probed forward and found him, but his placed right-foot finish went narrowly past the post. A slip by Broadhurst allowed Batt to run in from the left-wing and he should have done better when shooting goalwards with Randolph blocking with his legs. A neat turn by the relatively quiet Boyd allowed him a shot on goal, but likewise Taylor earlier, his 'weaker' foot proved ineffective.
Hereford's best chance of the second-half fell to Hudson-Odoi after Gwynne had played a low ball across the box, the former Fulham man met it with a rasping right-foot shot which Lewis did superbly to tip around the post. Minutes later, Guinan's vision allowed him to find the forward run of Diagouraga who stung the hands of Lewis with a powerful effort on goal. The mini-pressure was short-lived though as Mackail-Smith doubled the home side's advantage. Boyd was allowed time to cross from the right, and a moment of hesitation from Randolph and Broadhurst allowed Mackail-Smith to ghost in to head home from close-range.
Turner's reaction was to replace Gwynne with Andy Williams, however, it was Posh who looked threatening with Lee's looping shot ending up on the top of the goal. Sergio Torres replaced McLean, who was quiet on the day. Williams did well after turning past Coutts 30 yards out and sending a shot goalwards which Lewis gathered with relative ease. A lucky break for Hudson-Odoi should have seen the Posh backline punished but Lewis parried a shot from an angle by the young striker; the rebound from Williams was blocked before it broke to Easton who crossed to the back-post where Guinan beat two defenders only to see his head drop wide. Matty Done replaced Easton for the final few minutes but had little time to get into the game.
It was one of Hereford's best performances of the season, but again they come home empty handed. There was much more attacking threat but again, they lack that killer touch that is required in this league. Credit to the Bulls' support, who sang throughout the game and looked to be in good spirits despite the dismal away form. Peterborough failed to live up to their reputation of playing neat attacking football, with the majority of their play coming from long-balls looking for the pace of Mackail-Smith. Hereford now have three huge home games; the FA Cup tie with Dagenham is followed by visits from local rivals Cheltenham Town and then Northampton Town.
Hereford: Randolph, Rose, Broadhurst, N'Gotty, Taylor, Gwynne, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Guinan, Hudson-Odoi.
Subs: Samson, Beckwith, O'Leary, Done, Williams.
Peterborough: Lewis, Martin, Zakuani, Morgan, Williams, Whelpdale, Coutts, Lee, Boyd, Mackail-Smith, McLean.
Subs: McKeown, Westwood, Hyde, Torres, Batt.
