The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
More to admire than to regret after 15 games
BIG MATCH REPORT: LAST-GASP LEVELLER FOR POSH
Peterborough United were knocked off the top of League One following their 2-2 draw at home to Coventry City last Saturday, but manager Darren Ferguson insists the club are in a great position with a third of the season now over. Posh fought back from behind twice against Coventry at the Weston Homes Stadium and required a last-gasp goal from Mo Eisa to rescue a point.
It wasn’t enough to stop Posh dropping from first to third, but Ferguson believes it’s been a most satisfactory start to the season for his much-changed squad.
“The good far outweighs the bad so far,” Ferguson insisted. “When we’ve taken the lead in games this season we’ve picked up 26 of 30 points which is a very good stat.
“One League One defeat in the last 13 matches is excellent form as is five wins and a draw from our last six home matches.
“We’ve only picked up points from losing positions against Ipswich and Coventry, but the fact we came from behind twice against Coventry and the second time was so late in the game was very encouraging.
“There are definitely areas where we can improve. We’ve let two or more goals in on seven occasions which has to stop, but overall it’s been a pleasing start to the season.
“Twenty-eight points from 15 matches is a decent return and let’s not forget if Ipswich and Wycombe hadn’t played against Bolton’s youth team we might well have been top of the table.”
One concern on the horizon is the need for right-back Niall Mason and striker Ivan Toney to stay clear of yellow cards in League One matches throughout November.
Both are just one caution away from a one-match ban which arrives after five yellow cards. The threat of suspension is lifted after 19 League One matches.
“I can’t ask the players to do anything different,” Ferguson added. “I can’t ask Niall to stop tackling and Ivan needs use his physical strength to be effective. It’s a tall order for both to stay free of trouble, but they can at least make sure they don’t pick up soft bookings.
“If they do we will just deal with it when it happens. We have good cover in all positions and we have shown we can change formations successfully. We did it against Coventry by going to three at the back and using attacking wing-backs and we improved.
“I had to take Frazer BlakeTracy off early in the game which was no reflection on his performance or my trust in him, but he had just been cautioned and Coventry kept running at the back four so the danger was a red card.”
Frazer Blake-Tracy was taken off after 25 minutes