Notts Co 2-4 Peterborough United

Notts County were on the receiving end of a 4-2 beating today as Peterborough United's experienced strikeforce cut through the Magpies' makeshift defence on various occasions. The Notts defence, missing Gary Liddle and Manny Smith, saw Alan Sheehan playing centre back and young Greg Tempest at left back. Chris Kiwomya opted for the 4-4-2 formation which worked well in the 3-2 win against Fleetwood in midweek, Danny Haynes and Enoch Showunmi lining up front together.

Notts began brightly, winning a corner within the first two minutes, but at the other end, a dangerous Peterborough tested Bartosz Bialkowski just two minutes later, the Pole reacting superbly to deflect the shot with his legs.

A high-octane start to the match continued with a shot by Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who fired a threatening shot from outside the Posh box, before the Posh came raging back at the other end, Britt Assombalonga claiming a penalty as he fell in the box, but this wasn't given.

Notts then threatened again, Callum McGregor and Tempest combining to set up JCR for a long-range shot which was deflected to safety.

On eleven minutes, Haynes was brought down by Posh captain Tommy Rowe outside the box, but Sheehan's free kick was off the mark.

Further shots were traded between the two teams, before Notts finally broke the deadlock, Magpies skipper Dean Leacock powering a header into the Posh net. 1-0 to Notts, credit going to Mustapha Dumbuya for the pinpoint cross which was brilliantly converted by Deano.

Unfortunately, this lead wasn't to last more than a few minutes, as Peterborough, awoken from their semi-slumber, stepped it up a gear, Tommy Rowe converting the corner after Grant McCann's attempt was saved by Bart.

The next ten minutes would be all Posh, as an Assombalonga goal was blown offside, while Tyrone Barnett also threatened with a back-post header.

The pendulum would swing County's way for the final five or so minutes, as McGregor came close twice. However, half-time would be deadlocked at 1-1.

The second half saw Notts step up the pressure once again as they did in the latter stages of the second half, Haynes, Enoch Showunmi and JCR coming close, but then came the sucker punch: Peterborough managed to break, and from the counter-attack, completely split the Notts defence, and a virtually unmarked Barnett tucked it away past Sheehan and underneath Bart. 2-1.

Things were to get worse as a Lee Tomlin was fouled in the box by Mark Fotheringham, and a penalty was gifted to Posh. McCann stepped up, and to add insult to injury, fired a beautifully chipped shot which Antonin Panenka and Andrea Pirlo would have been proud of. 3-1 Posh, Notts with a mountain to climb.

Outrageously, a cast-iron penalty appeal, which was clearly handed in the area, was turned down, which incensed both the Notts crowd, who rang with some of the loudest boos heard in a long time at Meadow Lane, and the players, who made their disbelief vehemently clear to the referee.

And to compound Notts' misery, a mis-hit header by Tempest, who had been impressive and solid all game, gifted possession to Assombalonga, who had an easy run on goal before firing past Bart. 4-1, a crushing scoreline reflective of the Magpies' makeshift defence and the powerful Posh strikeforce.

Notts did eventually pull a goal back, as Gabriel Zakuani handled in the area, this instance being seen and awarded by the referee, and Yoann Arquin converted to make the scoreline a bit more respectable.

4-2 was how the game would end. The Notts performance wasn't at all deserving of such a battering scoreline, but defensive mistakes cost us dear. It is hoped that this kind of scoreline is merely an exception, and once Manny Smith and Gary Liddle return, with Sheehan restored to left-back, this won't happen again.