JONSON’S AT THE DOUBLE
Posh hit Latics to go clear
DARREN Ferguson hailed his comeback kings as Posh powered clear at the summit on an afternoon of high drama.
Leading scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris roared to the rescue with a vital late double as Ferguson’s men snatched a sixth successive victory from the jaws of a shock defeat.
The lowly Latics were more than a match for their high-flying hosts and sensed a victory to climb out of the drop-zone when substitute Thelo Aasgaard caught out Posh keeper Christy Pym direct from a 72nd-minute corner.
Joseph Dodoo had earlier been denied a fortunate firsthalf goal by a post, while Pym was kept busy with a series of saves to thwart Gavin Massey, Viv Solomon-Otobor and Callum Lang in the second period.
But just as it appeared Posh might be knocked off pole position after only a few days, they produced a two-goal burst in the space of three minutes to transform the contest and surge four points clear.
Substitute Harrison Burrows made an immediate impact by delivering a super cross for Clarke-Harris to head Posh level with his 20th league goal of the season after 82 minutes.
And the hottest shot in League One was celebrating again moments later, with Clarke-Harris when sending Athletic keeper Jamie Jones the wrong way from the penalty spot after Siriki Dembele was upended by former Notttingham Forest right-back Tendayi Darikwa.
It meant Ferguson could really celebrate reaching a century of games at the helm in his third spell as Posh boss.
“That was a fantastic three points for us,” said Ferguson.
“All we need to do is focus on winning as many games as we possibly can – and this was an important one. It was a very different kind of victory because we were a little under par and found ourselves behind to a freak of a goal.
“But the way we responded was brilliant. The quality of the goal to equalise was superb and there is no doubt it was definitely a penalty for the winner.
“Jonno (Clarke-Harris) did what Jonno does again. If we give him the service and give
him the chances, and he puts the ball in the back of the net.
“But it was great character from everyone to come from behind in the way we did because Wigan came here and had a right go at us.
“The substitutes, in particular, made a big difference and really helped us to win the game and keep our run going.
Our home record is absolutely outstanding and long may that continue.”
Caretaker Wigan chief Leam Richardson was left to lick his wounds after suffering heartbreak at the hands of the team sitting top for the second successive Saturday.
Richardson, whose men were pipped by Lincoln the previous weekend, was annoyed by the decision to award the crucial penalty to Posh, but also took considerable pride from the pain of seeing more precious points slip away.
“With the effort levels and application that went into the performance, we can feel hard done by,” admitted Richardson.
“We were a threat from set pieces all day and Thelo managed to score from the corner to give us the lead, but we haven’t got our just rewards and that is disappointing. The kid has gone down for the penalty and the referee had a big decision to make.
“If we had lost to a good goal or a nice pattern of play and strike, I’d be alright with it.
“To lose like we did is tinged with a bit of frustration, but fair play to Peterborough they got the win today.
“We know where we are at as a football club and a group of people. We came together very late as a squad and finding our feet as we go.
“Our energy levels can drop after 75 minutes in games due to not many of the lads even having a pre-season.
“I’ve got no complaints with anyone and if we keep doing what we did in this game, we will get the luck and the results we need. I truly believe that we will be alright.”