POSH REACTION: Southend boss claims he took Peterborough United by surprise
Brown fielded a very negative line-up in an attempt to stifle Posh’s attacking style. It worked perfectly as Southend picked up a 0-0 draw at the ABAX Stadium, although it needed a last-minute penalty save from visiting goalkeeper Dan Bentley Dan Bentley to preserve the clean sheet.
Brown was fuming at that decision after Posh substitute Marcus Maddison went tumbling following a challenge by Southend central defender Adam Thompson. Assistant referee Matthew Buonassisi flagged instantly in Maddison’s favour to the surprise of most onlookers.
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Hide AdAnd Brown’s mood didn’t alter despite Bentley’s heroics. Brown said: “That’s the closest in 36 years I’ve seen to anybody cheating. I’ll stand by what I said and if that costs me then it costs me.
“It’s not the linesman’s job to flag like that for a penalty,” Brown blasted. “He’s backed the referee into a corner and it could’ve cost us.
“Justice was done, but we had a few opportunities too. On the balance of play we deserved a point.
“Our expectation three games ago was to get in the play-offs and it still is.
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Hide Ad“Peterborough are a side that has scored 52 goals this season. They play open and attractive football and we had to come here with a game plan to stop that and I think we did.
“We came here with a new system, and probably caught Peterborough a little by surprise having played a back four probably 98 per cent of the time I’ve been here.”
Brown’s opinion of the spot-kick was backed-up by Bentley.
He said: “Tommo (Adam Thompson) clearly got the ball. It went in the opposite direction to the player and it was a very poor decision.
“It was karma their lad didn’t score because it wasn’t a penalty and we deserved at least a point. It would’ve been unjust if we had lost.”
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Hide AdThe 0-0 draw ended a run of three straight defeats for a Southend side who had conceded 11 goals in that run. Southend are eighth in League One, three points behind Posh who occupy the final play-off place.