Athletic lost at home again to virtually remove all prospects of a play-off spot. Although they held their own against Darren Ferguson's Peterborough United, and for a long period looked the better team, they still lacked the killer punch to finish off the visitors. Mackail-Smith put Posh ahead in the 26th minute after a mix up in defence when the ball bounced off Neal Eardley but Chris Taylor (pictured) equalised just before the break from an Eardley centre to give the Latics a fighting chance. Lewis Alessandra fired home in first half injury time but the referee cruelly disallowed what looked like a good goal. Mackail-Smith got his second, and the winning, goal four minutes from time after a mix up between Shane Supple and Eardley left him with a simple six yard tap-in. Ferguson's dad Alex was watching the game and Joe Royle told Latics World, "It was very cruel - I've just spoken to Sir Alex and we both said at the same time that winning teams win because things go for them. We were on top before they scored the winner and had just missed a good chance through Chris Taylor, who I must say was excellent today. But the right back and the goalkeeper got themselves in a tangle under no real pressure, unfortunately. Their front two were excellent and pressured us all day. They were running in behind and worrying us, and I've said for years that teams are only as good as their front men. I can see why Peterborough are where they are."
"We're bemoaning our luck a little and wondering about a decision that was made when we felt we should have been coming in for half-time 2-1 up. The referee has apparently said there was a pull in the build-up before Lewis Alessandra's goal was chalked off. Not one player on the field appealed for it. We are mystified for the second week running and again a decision has cost us. I don't want to keep going on about referees, but it all comes rushing back. We have not had the best of luck with decisions recently. Overall, the performance was excellent against a free-spending side who went into the game 19 points ahead of us. Sean Gregan was superb again and I have already mentioned Taylor - I think forward may be his best position."
It will now take a miracle, and probably five wins, for a play-off spot but until it is mathematically impossible the team should keep trying. If Joe Royle could get hist first win at Carlisle on Friday you just never know! Keep the faith.