The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh present a united front as they work on beating the Blues
The Posh management team and the players are united in their desire to arrest a poor run of Championship form as soon as possible.
That means a win against a powerful Birmingham City at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday.
But it won’t be an easy task as the Blues had the best defensive record in the Championship ahead of Wednesday night’s game against Fulham with just three goals conceded.
And Posh could be without striker Jack Marriott who limped out of the latter stages of Tuesday’s defeat at Reading with what looked like a hamstring problem, although manager Darren Ferguson hoped it was just cramp.
Posh expect a much better performance now they are back at home.
Ferguson said: “We are suffering at the minute which can happen in the Championship so we have to dig deep, stay together and make sure we get a win on Saturday.
“It will be good to be back at home, but we can’t ignore our away form. Relying on our home form won’t work in this division.
“We know what we have to do better and we need to sort it out quickly, but rest assured the players and my team are working flat out to solve our problems.”
Ferguson employed a 4-4-2 formation at Reading on Tuesday, but he’s not expected to stick with that against much stronger opposition.
If Posh revert to three centre-backs it’s still likely teenage defender Ronnie Edwards will keep his place after a terrific first start at Championship level at Reading.
Midfielder Jack Taylor could start for the first time this season.
“I like to play two up front if I can,” Ferguson added. “Jack Marriott seemed to think his leg had just cramped up so let’s hope that is what happened.
“It was the first time this season I’d managed to get Siriki Dembele, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jack on the pitch at the same time which was also encouraging.”
Centre-back Frankie Kent, who has stood in as Posh skipper in recent games, said his teammates are working hard to ensure repeated failings are no longer repeated.
Posh let in two goals in three minute spells in their two most recent matches this season.
“We have to find a way to stop conceding a second goal so soon after the first because it gives you a mountain to climb,” Kent admitted.
“It is not for the want of trying. The effort is there, but things need to change and we are going to try our hardest to make sure that it happens.”
Possible Posh team (3-4-1-2) Pym Thompson, Edwards, Knight. Ward, Taylor, Norburn, Burrows. Szmodics Dembele, Clarke-Harris.