Come on then, how did you end up spending your unexpected free weekend? Got all the Christmas shopping done, no doubt. Or maybe you found the cure for a nasty disease. If so, more power to you. But it wasn’t just Boro’ who had a quiet day of it on Saturday. The lads from Posh did too – it was their turn to play Bury and, well, the Shakers ain’t there to play. So, we’re both coming into this replay as fresh as a daisy… if you don’t count all the injuries and international call-ups that Mark Sampson has to deal with this Tuesday night.
And now Dover are waiting to find out where they’re off to in a fortnight. Ours? Or theirs?
Peterborough United v Stevenage: The Preview…
Peterborough United – who are they?
Unless something mega has gone down in the last seven days without us realising (and, to be fair, that could happen), Peterborough United are the same guys who rocked up at the Lamex and came away with a replay. Maybe we should make more of our last game with them. It was, after all, the first time we’ve drawn with ’em. And if this ain’t major news, we ain’t sure what is. It’s not like there’s anything massive happening in the world right now.
Our Record vs Posh: P 4 — W 1 — D 1 — L 2 — F 5 — A 6 — Pts 3
Last time out: Stevenage 1-1 Peterborough United, 09 November 2019
How are Peterborough United doing so far this season?
Take out our draw in the original tie last Saturday and our last match preview is still pretty on point here. But let’s be looking a bit more at how Posh are faring at home this term. It’s only because we like to spook ourselves from time to time. And that’s because Posh have scored in all their home games so far this campaign. Darren Ferguson’s men have scored at least two in each of their last seven indoors as well.
For us to go through to the second round, this is a bi-iiiiii-ig trend we have to go a-buckin’.
Good grief.
Tell us something we don’t know about Peterborough United
Now on our own coaching staff, David Oldfield also has experience from the dugout up at London Road. In fact, he twice stepped into the breach as caretaker boss on two different occasions. First, when Gary Johnson left in January 2011. Second, keeping things in step after Grant McCann got the boot in February 2018. And both times Posh won 2-1.
Is Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today?
Erm, yes. We think so.
What are the bookies’ odds for this game?
The bookies think Posh are overwhelming favourites and who are we to argue? Why bother with the home win market as 5/12 (SportingBet) is as good as it gets? To earn a fair wedge and a happy night all round, however, the away win market is where you can get 15/2 (multiple). Posh are 5/4 (SkyBet) to breach our defence three or more times – but we could also be tempted by 11/2 (Bet365) on Elliott List to score at some point.
Which Peterborough United player should we watch out for?
Well, we did tell you to keep an eye on Marcus Maddison and he proved us right with the goal that’s dragging us up to Peterborough on a cold November night. We can only guess that he’ll be after more goals or an assist at the very least. So, let’s stop him doing that…
Who is our ref for this replay?
Ollie Yates. It is quite the mixed bag, with our three games involving Mr Yates giving us a win, loss and a draw. More often than not seen in League One (certainly this season), he last stepped out with us in our promotion battle with Exeter last term. If we had to make a grab for some straws here, we’ve won the only away game where Mr Yates has been on watch. But that was at Newport County in April 2018. So, not much we can take from that.
Our Record: P 3 — W 1 — D 1 — L 1 — F 2 — A 3
Last time out: Stevenage 1-1 Exeter City, 22 April 2019
And, finally, what do you reckon?
OK, we got it wrong last time – though we were *technically* right in that both teams did a goal. Ever ones to learn our lesson, we’re coming at this with the same sense of dread as the home tie. Maybe the reverse psychology vibe could do its thing again. Or maybe Posh will show us why goals have been so easy to come by at London Road. If we can get that first goal again, who knows. But we can’t see it happening.
Peterborough United v Stevenage scorecast: 3-0