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GAME DETAILS
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League Two
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Attendance: 4,890
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4-1
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Day 10, Butcher 32, Yeo 35, Opara 77
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Igoe 52
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| Managers |
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DT92 Members at this game: (you can click here to load your profile picture) |
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Gashead Kev
92 |
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Sean Clevedon Gas
91 |
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gashead eric
91 |
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PETERBOROUGH UNITED 4-1 BRISTOL ROVERS
Day 10 Igoe 52
Butcher 32
Yeo 35
Opara 77
ATTENDANCE: 4,890 (848)
Half an hour of disastrous first half defending saw a catastrophic opening day performance and result for Rovers at London Road.
Peterborough United served up a feast of goals for their fans, as woeful play at the back from the Pirates ensured all the pre-season optimism that surrounded today's game would count for nothing at the end of the match.
Peterborough enjoyed the first clear-cut opportunity of the game just a few minutes in as Steve Phillips brilliantly tipped a Danny Crow effort over the bar, and then Mark Arber went close with a header just wide of the upright.
But it wasn't long before a series of early chances for the home side eventually paid dividends, with Jamie Day capitalising on some disappointing Rovers defending.
Lloyd Opara made a fool of Steve Elliott down the flank before sending a low cross into the path of Day, and after the visitors missed a couple of chances to clear the danger, the Peterborough man lashed home an unstoppable left-footed shot into the corner of the net.
A lethargic Junior Agogo saw a snapshot easily blocked by a Peterborough defender, and then Peterborough went close again with Guy Branston heading wide across the face of goal after being left totally unmarked.
Agogo headed over the crossbar from six yards out when he should have at least hit the target, and then James Hunt tried his luck with a rasping drive that crept just inches wide of Mark Tyler's left post.
Agogo went wide and hopelessly high as he attempted an audacious left-footed shot, and then from the following attack at the other end Peterborough doubled their advantage with Richard Butcher nicking the ball past two players before sliding his shot home into the corner of the net beyond a helpless Phillips.
Sammy Igoe went close with a free-kick over the Peterborough crossbar, before Peterborough completed their first half rout on 35 minutes as Simon Yeo sent a powerful header into the back of the net after yet more slack Rovers defending.
Chris Carruthers missed a chance to test Tyler with a free-kick at the end of the first half, and as the half-time whistle sounded, Rovers players were quick to troop off the pitch.
Adam Newton chased down a through ball before bringing out the best in Phillips at the start of the second half, and then just a few minutes later Rovers got themselves on the scoresheet for the first time.
Andy Sandell showed tremendous pace and trickery down the left wing before delivering a low cross into the path of Igoe, and the former Millwall man made no mistake from six yards to reduce the deficit to two goals.
Igoe nearly made it two in two minutes only to see his free-kick superbly saved by Tyler, and then Sandell's right-footed goalbound effort was blocked at the last minute.
Lewis Haldane should have done better after a great run saw him beat two defenders only to then fire high and wide from inside the penalty box, before Peterborough eventually completed their demolition job 13 minutes from time as Opara rifled home from 18 yards after yet more questionable Rovers defending.
The game ended with both sides seemingly accepting the outcome as it stood, with Peterborough content with their emphatic victory and Rovers assuming the inevitability of their fate.
There were a handful of positives to come from the match from Rovers, but more worryingly than anything, was the continued theme of careless defending at the back after largely decent play in midfield and attack.
Nothing is decided on the opening day, but if the next 45 matches don't see some sharp defensive improvements then another season of frustration and mediocrity will surely be on the cards.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Mark Tyler, Guy Branston, Mark Arber, Chris Plummer, Dean Holden, Adam Newton, Richard Butcher, Jamie Day (Jude Stirling 70), Lloyd Opara (Trevor Benjamin 80), Danny Crow, Simon Yeo (Justin Richards 83)
Unused Substitutes: Shane Huke, Mark Bailey
BRISTOL ROVERS: Steve Phillips, Aaron Lescott, Craig Hinton, Steve Elliott, Chris Carruthers (Ryan Green 75), Sammy Igoe, James Hunt, Craig Disley, Stuart Campbell (Andy Sandell 46), Junior Agogo (Lewis Haldane 46), Richard Walker
Unused Substitutes: Scott Shearer, Byron Anthony
REFEREE: Mr D McDermid
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fenposh
87 |
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utp
75 |
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steve the gas
44 |
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PunkyPowers
36 |
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Fishhead Nelson
13 |
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