Posh coshed ONE TO FERG-ET FOR DARREN
DARREN FERGUSON was a victim of the Manager of the Month curse as table-toppers Peterborough were brushed aside by Crewe.
No doubt the Posh boss will have had to deflect a few choice words from his ambitious chairman Darragh MacAnthony, who is intent on reaching the Championship.
And according to Ferguson, he does not hold back when things go askew.
“We’ve been on a magnificent run of late and to lose it in this manner is incredibly disappointing,” he said after disappearing down the tunnel before the final whistle.
“Crewe thoroughly deserved the win. In every department they were way ahead of us.
“If I could have made more substitutions, I would have.
“We didn’t get anywhere near them in the first half.
“I need to know why we gave a performance like that after doing so well lately.”
Having won six of their seven games last month, Ferguson – in his third spell in charge at London Road – was named League One Manager of the Month.
The Scot had showered Crewe with praise in the build-up, calling them one of the best footballing sides in the division. And from early on he had to watch with growing frustration from the technical area as the home side lived up to the accolade with some delightful interplay, carving open the league leaders almost at will.
A delighted Crewe boss Dave Artell
CREWE’S CONTROL: Pickering after the first goal said: “We finally ll got some goals l to match our performances. We have deservedly beaten the league leaders.
“The lads are a terrific bunch. It’s a pleasure to work with them every day.”
They fully merited the opening goal, a 29th-minute free-kick from Harry Pickering which arrowed into the corner of the net from outside the area.
Despite having lost their previous three league games, there was no lack of confidence and composure as the chances came and went until Pickering’s stunning intervention.
Adventurous midfielder Oli Finney should have scored, sending a free header from Tom Lowery’s cross firing just wide and forcing Posh keeper Christy Pym into action.
And before the visitors had the opportunity to hit back, Niall Mason pressed the self-destruct button with a loose cross-field ball which the alert Charlie Kirk intercepted and raced through to hammer past the exposed Pym in the 41st minute.
It had been a horror 45 minutes for Posh who had arrived in Cheshire on the back of eight unbeaten games which had taken them to the League One summit.
Ferguson’s father Sir Alex was renowned for applying the hairdryer treatment in circumstances like these.
And you sensed the away dressing room would have been lively with Fergie Jnr at the break.
His players were sent out early as he looked for a positive response but the home side held out comfortably.