FERGIE: DON’T POSH TOO HARD
Boss Darren reckons relaxation therapy will stop his men ending up as roadkill
BY
DARREN FERGUSON has called on his Peterborough side to relax – and watch their away woes end.
Posh have the worst record on the road in the country, losing all five on their travels
And those defeats have come with them conceding six at Sheffield United and three at both Reading and Coventry.
Now second-bottom Peterborough face another demanding trip today to Middlesbrough.
And Ferguson said: “I have every confidence, every belief and the players need to make sure they have that too.
“My players still have the handbrake on – they won’t release it as they don’t have the belief.
“But my hope is once they can go ahead in an away game we just sort of relax and play.
“We have to relax to get the best out of them. It’s not as if we’re not good enough. We need to correct our consistency away from home.
“That first win after a break can change things quickly – it can change the whole dynamic of a season.
“There’s clear stats which say we need to improve – quickly.”
Posh have lost seven of their opening 11 matches, winning two and drawing two.
But they have not won in their last three matches and headed into the international break after a 3-2 home defeat by Bristol City.
As Posh are seeking a change of away fortune, Neil Warnock has warned Middlesbrough “the chips are down” as they face an injury crisis and inconsistent form.
Boro have lost five of their last nine games with just two wins and face Peterborough needing to get back on track to chase a play-off place.
But they have major problems at the back with a major defensive injury crisis.
Riverside gaffer Warnock (left) said: “It seems to be all defenders at the moment. Grant Hall and Dael Fry will be out for three or four weeks.
“Anfernee Dijksteel is out,
Marc Bola went down yesterday, I can’t see either of them coming back before Cardiff next weekend.
“Lee Peltier is suspended and we haven’t seen
Paddy Mcnair train yet.”
Warnock wants some spirit to come out of the setbacks.
He said: “It looks like being a tough week for us, the chips are down.
“But I want the players to enjoy it, we have to get the crowd behind us.
“It’s all about togetherness.”