Source: Team_Talk
Exodus header seals Posh victory
The Hornets only avoided the threat of administration on Friday after majority shareholder Lord Ashcroft agreed to repay a loan of £4.88million to former chairman Jimmy Russo.[LNB]And manager Malky Mackay will have been pleased with the way his players acquitted themselves at London Road, especially in the second half, but for Geohaghon's 78th-minute winner.[LNB]Lee Frecklington wasted no time giving Posh the lead with a well-taken volley after the Championship encounter survived a pitch inspection.[LNB]Watford, who somehow saw Danny Graham denied a stonewall penalty when he was taken out by the impressive Joe Lewis, levelled in the 48th minute through John Eustace's first goal of the season.[LNB]But on-loan centre-back Geohaghon headed home to ensure Posh leapfrogged Plymouth at the foot of the table - with the Championship's bottom side at Christmas being relegated in nine of the last 10 seasons.[LNB]It required an immense effort from Peterborough ground staff and those drafted in to even get the encounter under way, with a collection of people still attempting to clear the pitch from snow just five minutes before kick-off.[LNB]The decision from referee Karl Evans to give the game the green light was definitely a questionable one with the playing surface resembling more of an ice rink than a football pitch.[LNB]But the hosts wasted no time acclimatising to the conditions and took the lead after just nine minutes.[LNB]Neat interchange down the left found the impressive George Boyd and he worked his magic before floating an inch-perfect cross the width of the penalty area for an unmarked Frecklington to volley home.[LNB]Watford were gifted a great opportunity to level soon after when Tom Cleverley found himself clean through following Paul Coutts' weak header, but a combination of the uncertainty under foot and a poor second touch saw the chance drift away.[LNB]An evenly-contested opening quarter was played out before the visitors were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty shortly before the half-hour mark.[LNB]Hornets striker Graham went up for the ball with Posh goalkeeper Lewis before being clattered to the floor, only to receive a yellow card for his subsequent protestations.[LNB]Craig Mackail-Smith came within inches to connecting with a certain second for Posh while John Harley dragged wide at the other end prior to the half-time interval.[LNB]Remarkably, the pitch was still playable as the second half kicked off but the plummeting temperatures were threatening to turn the playing surface into a sheet of ice.[LNB]Yet the players seemed to be unaffected and Hornets goalkeeper Scott Loach dived low to his right to keep out Chris Whelpdale's strike after 16 seconds.[LNB]And the save proved crucial as Eustace fired the hosts level within minutes when Posh defender Scott Griffiths failed to fully clear Cleverley's right-wing free-kick.[LNB]Watford had a lot more urgency about them after the restart as they peppered the Peterborough goal with shots - Cleverley seeing a well-worked chance smothered by England hopeful Lewis.[LNB]The Posh keeper again proved his quality to keep out Heidar Helguson's 68th-minute header but the Iceland international, who did not have an afternoon to remember, should have done better.[LNB]And the Hornets were made to pay for their missed chances when Geohaghon headed home after the away side failed to clear Frecklington's corner.[LNB]Yet there was still time for Lewis to produce a superb stop to keep out Helguson's header.[LNB][LNB]
