Paul Taylor’s 20-yard curler was a goal worthy of winning any cup tie according to Peterborough United boss Grant McCann, as The Posh booked a trip to Chelsea by beating Notts County in an Emirates FA Cup second round replay.
The first game ended 2-2 and Notts County had chances to stage another comeback at the ABAX Stadium, but when Jon Stead’s penalty was saved and Jonathan Forte’s lob came back off the bar, it was clear Taylor’s effort and Gwion Edwards’ early header would be enough to secure the victory.McCann’s side now travel to Stamford Bridge in round three, next month, and the manager was happy with his side’s performance.
“It was a good performance for 30, 35 minutes,” said the former Posh midfielder. “Then in the second half we were professional, the discipline was good and we had a couple of chances to kill it off on the break
“The first goal was a great goal from Gwion, he’s arrived in there a few times for us this season and I think that’s nine goals for him from midfield so I’m really, really, pleased for him.
“Then Tails’ goal was a great strike and worthy of winning any cup tie – his shooting ability is a good as anyone we’ve got.”
The home side made a perfect start to the tie as Edwards latched onto a Michael Smith cross from the right wing to head home in just the second minute.
And it did not take long for Peterborough to double the lead as, five minutes later, Taylor picked up the ball on the half way line and was allowed to run, unchallenged, to 20 yards out and curl an unstoppable shot into the top right corner of Scott Loach’s net.
Notts County could have been level on 35 minutes, though, but after Luke McGee brought down Stead in the box, the keeper made amends by saving the striker’s resultant penalty.
The visitors continued to push for a way back into the game but when Haydn Hollis skewed wide, Forte hit the bar with a sublime lob in the second half, and McGee saved well from Robert Milsom in the dying minutes, it was not to be their night.
McCann now takes his Peterborough side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, January 8, and he admitted to wanting to take the home crowd with him, too.
“I think we’ll need the full 7,000 capacity of the ABAX Stadium to play on the pitch that day, but it’s going to be an unbelievable chance to go there,” he added.
“A lot of the boys will probably never get that chance again, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Peterborough United: 1 Luke McGee, 3 Andrew Hughes, 5 Ryan Tafazolli, 4 Michael Bostwick, 2 Michael Smith, 8 Chris Forrester, 18 Leonardo Da Silva Lopes, 7 Gwion Edwards, 10 Paul Taylor, 21 Tom Nichols, 17 Shaquile Coulthirst.
Substitutes: 16 Bradden Inman for Taylor 35, 30 Nathan Oduwa for Coulthirst 74, 29 Jerome Binnom-Williams for Edwards 88.
Substitutes not used: 14 Mark Tyler, 12 Ricardo Santos, 22 Adil Nabi, 23 Callum Chettle.
Head coach: Grant McCann
Goals: Edwards 2, Taylor 8.
Notts County: 13 Scott Loach, 31 Thierry Audel, 6 Haydn Hollis, 5 Richard Duffy, 2 Matt Tootle, 12 Robert Milsom, 4 Alan Smith, 15 Curtis Thompson, 19 Jordan Richards, 30 Jon Stead, 11 Jonathan Forte.
Substitutes: 24 Adam Campbell for Richards 58, 9 Vadaine Oliver for Stead 68, 39 Aaron Collins for Smith 73.
Substitutes not used: 1 Adam Collin, 3 Carl Dickinson, 14 Louis Laing, 18 Elliott Hewitt.
Head coach: John Sheridan
Attendance: 7,796
