Don’t Be Blue, Peter

By BoroGuide

Alan Partridge

“Quick as a flash, I replied, ‘Don’t be blue, Peter!’ Needless to say, I had the last laugh.”

The circus is in town! The circus is in town! You know a Stevenage game has the potential to pull in the crowds when the Fairlands car park is put out of action. But we’re not about to help you find somewhere to stick your car for the afternoon; we’re here to see if there’s anything to stop that sinking feeling becoming ever more consuming as the results tick by without so much as a point in return. It’s starting to get just a bit annoying.

You can nearly count on one hands the teams we’ve beaten in the league this season – and when we say nearly, we mean there have been seven and there are only five fingers on one hand. Unless you’re from Woking, in which case it varies. Peterborough United are one of the Magnificent Seven to have been put to the sword by Boro’ – and be sure that they will be dropping by ours this weekend with the intention of gaining some revenge.

After a blip around the turn of the year where Posh recorded four losses on the spin, they have powered back with three wins in five (10 points). We’ve taken two wins (six points) from the last five by comparison, and just Shrewsbury – whose form suggests they’ve now packed up for the summer – are in worse nick than us. It is funny, however, how a win can change things. Bradford just recorded their first win in forever and are somehow in 11th…

11th is now probably beyond us, though.

[expand title=”WE’VE MET BEFORE…”]

23 Nov 2013 A Sky Bet League One 1-0
09 Aug 2011 H Carling Cup R1 3-4

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[expand title=”REFEREE WATCH”]
Oliver Langford – he’s neither in the cast of the hit West End show Oliver! and nor is he a resident of Langford, but he is this weekend’s referee. Though while we think about it all, being from a neutral Bedfordshire village that sits halfway up the A1 would be just a little handy for a game between Stevenage and Peterborough. Anyway, back to important matters and our need-to-know about the most hip and happenin’ going: Whistle Man O…

First impressions are positive. Look at the bookings-to-games ratio and you think he was Gandhi or some fella like that. Peace-loving Oliver has barely dished out two yellows per game on average this season and, while the red card count is a little disproportionate, it’s encouraging. What surprises us most is that the name seems familiar, and yet he has only taken charge of us three times before – and would you look at that filthy return. Uh-oh.

This season for Oliver Langford:
Games: 25 — Yellow: 58 (2.32pg), Red: 4

Our record under Oliver Langford:
P3 W0 D0 L3 F1 A7 — Yellow: 3, Red: 1
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[expand title=”FIFA 14 VERDICT”]
Team:
Day; Obeng, Ashton, Hartley; Akins, Mousinho, Smith, Doughty, Freeman; Morais; Zoko

Now and then, there are moments that restore your faith and put a smile back on your face for days. If reality takes a leaf out of the computer world’s book this weekend, we might be seeing one of those moments this weekend. From the off, Boro’ went at their visitors and it was the corresponding fixture’s villain, Jimmy Smith, who nabbed the first goal on just six minutes after a goalmouth scramble.

Boro’ were unable to get much more reward for their work until the 75th minute, when the referee decided we should have a pelanty. We’re not sure why, but cue Lucas Akins to slam it home. Jon Ashton’s dalliance in the area after a Chris Day save gave Posh an undeserved route back into it with seven minutes to go, but Boro’ broke again and Francois Zoko made a nuisance of himself to finish it off moments later.

FT: Stevenage 3-1 Peterborough United
(Smith 6′, Akins pen 75′, Zoko 86′; Washington 83′)

 

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[expand title=”BOOKIE BASHING”]
We’ve had to rush this bad boy out early this week, and as such these odds are liable to be different when you come to have a look. But that still won’t stop Titan Bet offering you an enticing risk-free £10 wager… Anyway, there are 71 markets on offer as we speak and you can get a home win at 11/5. The Posh at 5/4 looks very tempting too. It’s 23/20 should a punt on Both Teams NOT To Score appeals. What about Over 3.5 Goals at 11/5 too?

But if you’d rather, check out what the alternatives are offering.

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