Monday, 16 September 2013

Bristol City 0 Peterborough United 3

My clipping from Sunday's paper

Britt Assombalonga joked that the Posh boys are ignoring boss Darren Ferguson in their push for promotion.

Hit man Assombalonga, 20, took his tally to seven goals in nine starts with two second half goals and then explained:

"No-one wants to stop training. We're out there and all of a sudden the gaffer says 'stop', but everyone's thinking 'let's carry on' - so we do.

"Sometimes the coaches aren't around and we'll just use our own experiences to help each other in groups. The defenders work with the defenders, the midfielders work together and so do the strikers."

And Assombalonga also revealed that the friendly competition to see who would end up as top marksman is already hotting up.

Tyronne Barnett opened the scoring to take his total to six while fellow striker Lee Tomlin blew the opportunity to draw level with Assombalonga when he missed a first half penalty.

But Congo-born Assombalonga said:

"As soon as we got back to the dressing room we talk about it. We're urging each other on. Once one of us scores, it gives the others the determination to get one.

Hit man Assombalonga turned down a loan deal to Ashton Gate in the summer in favour of a move to Peterborough and delighted boss Darren Ferguson gushed:

"His first goal was special and as soon as he hit it we knew it was in. He showed great determination for the last goal and the work ethic of our front two really gets us going.

"It was a really solid performance - perfect really with three goals and a clean sheet."

Assombalonga grabbed the first of his brace in the 51st minute.

The former Watford striker picked up a short pass from midfielder Danny Swanson and let rip with a scorcher from just outside the right angle of the box that flew into the far top corner.

In the 88th minute Assombalonga added his second when he shrugged off two City defenders to race in on goal from half way before lifting the ball over keeper Frank Fielding for his seventh of the season.

Fielding was at fault for Peterborough's opener in the 23rd minute.

Full back Craig Alcock took a low pot shot from 22 yards and Fielding beat the ball back into the path of striker Tyrone Barnett who gratefully tapped in his fifth of the season from eight yards.

But Fielding redeemed himself less than four minutes later.

Assombalonga cut into the box from the right wing and was felled by central defender James O'connor, but Fielding brilliantly saved Lee Tomlin's spot kick at full stretch.


The result left pre-season promotion favourites City in the drop zone and Posh closing in on the top spot.

"It's good to be top scorer now, but I'm warning them I'm not stopping there. But at the end of the day a goal's a goal and we're scoring them for the team to help guide us to victory."

City boss Sean O'Driscoll watched his side slide into the drop zone, but remained positive. He said:

"We felt we were on top in the first half against a very good, free-flowing Peterborough team, and I thought we disrupted the way they wanted to play. We still tried to do the right things."

And Sean O'Driscoll admitted Assombalonga was the big difference and said:

"They paid £1.2 million and he was someone we were interested in. Not to buy, but on loan. So we knew what a good young player his is."
... and this morning's edition

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