Profligacy has been the theme for Salford City in recent games, and the League Two side failed to make the net ripple in their FA Cup showdown with Peterborough, but thankfully for them, their higher-tier opponents did not possess the golden touch either.
Neil Wood’s side have now been handed a second bite of the cherry in the FA Cup, but whatever shooting drills the hosts are working on in training are still not paying off, as they failed to fire once again in a 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon at the weekend.
Failure to find the back of the net on Saturday made it four games without a goal for Salford in all tournaments, during which time they have drawn two alongside a pair of 1-0 defeats to Leyton Orient and Rochdale, but they remain in the top half of the League Two table in ninth position.
A tally of 19 league strikes is the fewest out of any side in the top half, though, and Salford are now aiming to avoid a first-round elimination in the FA Cup for the first time since 2019-20, having got as far as the second round in each of the last two seasons.
Wood’s side welcome Peterborough to Moor Lane having only scored one goal in their last six home fixtures in all competitions, with their only win in that time coming against Accrington Stanley on penalties in the EFL Trophy, and the visitors doubled their hosts’ paltry tally in just 90 minutes at the weekend.
Indeed, the League One outfit found the back of the net twice against Exeter City courtesy of Jonson Clarke-Harris and Ephron Mason-Clark, but the Posh were undone by a 91st-minute winner from former player Jevani Brown in an agonizing 3-2 defeat.
That loss brought an end to Peterborough’s three-game winning run in the third tier, but the autumn period has been a successful one overall for Grant McCann’s outfit, who are sitting pretty in fourth in the table as they seek an immediate return to the Championship.
Despite having 14 shots compared to eight for Salford in their recent FA Cup meeting, there was no way through for Peterborough on their own turf, and McCann’s side are now at risk of a first-round elimination for the first time in 17 years.
Not since the 2005-06 season have the Posh gone out this early – losing 1-0 to Burton Albion that year in a replay, coincidentally following a goalless draw in the original game – and they got as far as round five last year before being beaten 2-0 by Manchester City.
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Salford City centre-back Richard Narteymade a welcome return from injury in the draw with Wimbledon – playing the first 45 minutes – but the hosts’ ranks remain depleted heading into Wednesday’s replay.
The likes of Liam Shephard, Stevie Mallan, Conor McAleny and Jason Loweare among the absentees for the hosts, who will likely stick with their three-man defensive setup here. Meanwhile, left-back Ibou Touray is on international duty with Gambia, and goalkeeper Jacob Chapmanis with Australia’s Under-23s.
Manchester United loanee Ethan Galbraith should be among those to line up from the first whistle, while Callum Hendry and Matt Smith will hope to force their way back into the attack amid the hosts’ profligate streak.
