FERGIE: I NEED RUTHLESS STRIKERS
DARREN Ferguson has urged his Peterborough United strikers to start scoring after watching them let Oldham Athletic off the hook at London Road.
Posh’s attacking midfielder Marcus Maddison was the star turn, but his second-half free-kick from close to 30 yards out was cancelled out by a thumping header from Genseric Kusunga.
Jonathan Forte’s seventh goal of the season gave Oldham an early lead, but centre-half Michael Bostwick’s long-range strike had brought the sides level.
And Ferguson admitted front two Conor Washington and summer signing Luke James, who have two league goals between them, need to offer more than hard running.
“I felt we definitely deserved to win the game. Both goals we conceded were really poor.The second goal is awful, we cannot give a free header,” said the Peterborough boss.
“I felt the performance as a whole was better than the last two or three games, but it’s two points dropped.
“Marcus is our main threat. I like three at the back as a system as it allows Marcus to go more central where he is more dangerous.
“The stats will show I need more goals from my strikers. They need to start scoring more.
“There were two or three one-on-ones and we would expect to score one of them. We have to be more ruthless in both boxes.
“Luke’s performed well but needs a goal to get running.”
Oldham, now unbeaten in eight, took an early lead when Danny Philliskirk received Carl Winchester’s pass down the right before sliding in a cross which Forte poked in from close range.
With the visitors sitting back, Posh tried their luck from range to find a route back into the match. Maddison saw his 20-yard shot hit the inside of the right-hand post before bouncing out, but Bostwick had more luck when his bobbling effort from further out hit the same post and rebounded in.
Washington then slipped a shot under Paul Rachubka in the Latics’ goal on the stroke of half-time, but James Wilson got back to clear off the line.
Maddison continued to impress in the second half, and his dipping free-kick flew past Rachubka just after the break.
The former Gateshead man hit the post again, but Kusunga’s thumping header from Mike Jones’ left-wing corner earned Oldham a point and left boss Lee Johnson satisfied with his side’s afternoon.
“It’s a good point, I do not think we were at our best. We looked a little bit leggy and a little bit ragged at times,” said Johnson.
“It’s a good sign that we were not at our best but we have got a point.
“Jonathan Forte had good movement and scored a good goal. I thought he could have had a couple.We know he’s a threat and teams are worried about him.
“I was really disappointed with their second goal. It should have been saved.
“They put us under pressure but it was down to our doing. I felt they did not really penetrate the middle of our goal.We caused our own problems.”