Anger as Posh exit FA Cup in an inept and spineless way

Posh boss Darren Ferguson was furious at the manner of his side’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Norwich City. Posh went down 3- 0 to the Premier League side at London Roadafteradisplaylabelled‘ inept’, ‘ spineless’ and ‘ unacceptable’ by the manager.

Ferguson was without his twotopgoal scorers ( LeeeTomlin and Dwight Gayle) and his best defender ( Gaby Zakuani), but he didn’t seek to make excuses in a post- match tirade which started with an apology to the Posh fans in a crowd of just over 13,000.

Ferguson said: “I’ve only ever done it once before, but I have to apologise to the fans for that performance.

“We didn’t compete, we didn’t play with any tempo, in fact we didn’t turn up full stop.

“The last think I said to the players before the game was to make it a cup- tie.

“By that I meant get out there, play ourfootball, but also tackle and scrap.

“Instead we turned a cuptie in front of our biggest home crowd of the season into a preseasongameandthatwasunacceptable.

“Wewereineptandthereare many other adjectives I could use like ‘ spineless’.

“I just didn’t see that performance coming and to say I was very frustrated watching it is a complete under- statement.

“I’m not having that from the players. Theylet meandthe Peterborough fans down. I left them sitting in the dressing room after the game as I wanted themtothinkabout what they had just done and then perhaps they could explain it to me.

“They will expect metopick themupagainasIalwaysdo, but maybe they are getting too familiar with that.”

Ferguson’sangerwasshared by his chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

Poshhavefallenattheirfirst FA Cup hurdle in three of the last four seasons.

MacAnthony used his Twitter account to say: “Never had cup run or earned decent moneyfromFACupsinceI’veowned club and we didn’t turn up to win today. So angry, really angry.

“( It was) mainly a second string Norwich side who were totally professional in their approach and work rate ( from) start to finish.

“Have to say magnificent support from Posh and Norwich fans. So, so sorry myteam didn’t show up and give you all the game you deserved.”

Ferguson found only one positive point from the contest and that was the display of 17 year- old striker Jaanai Gordon who was sent on as a first- halfsubstitute. Ferguson admitted he made a mistake in not fielding the local boy from the start.

“I’m disappointed that I ignored my gut instinct to start with Jaanai,” Ferguson said.

“And the lad did well when he went on. He at least showed a bit of fight.”

Norwich manager Chris Hughton insisted squad depth was the key to his side’s victory stroll. He fielded nine fringe players.

Hughton said: “There is no doubt that we have a stronger squad than Peterborough.

“I havealotofadmirationfor Darrenandhisteamthough. It’s a great effort by a club of their size just to compete so well in the Championship.”