NOT MUCH POSH ABOUT THESE STRUGGLERS

SOMETIMES, you watch a team and see that spark that makes you think,“Yes – they’ll be in contention for promotion”.

Watching Peterborough lose to Colchester in the FA Cup, I’m afraid I didn’t see that at all.

Their forward line is top drawer: Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron McLean, Connor Washington and Luke James.

But the midfield lacks creativity and, worse still, the whole team looks really short on confidence.

For me, the problem is threefold. If you keep selling big players, you’ll eventually get bitten on the backside.

Peterborough lost Dwight Gayle and Britt Assombalonga in quick succession. Craig Alcock – arguably one of the best right- backs in the division – joined Sheffield United.

Then there’s the disruption. When I first went to Brighton, we went League Two, League One, Championship, League One and Championship again. My first five seasons, I played in five different divisions.

Peterborough have taken the same route and, while it’s exciting for fans, it’s difficult to plan ahead or build a settled side.

Peterborough were relegated from the Championship in 2013 after conceding a last-minute equaliser to Palace on the final day. Nobody had gone down with more points.Then, last year, they lost to Leyton Orient in the play-off semis.That is two nasty kicks in the teeth.

Those set-backs, coupled with the disruption and player sales, seem to have affected them badly.

Is Darren Ferguson in trouble? Well, even though they’ve been on this horrendous run, they aren’t all that far off the play-offs. And not many managers have a track record of winning promotion like Darren.