Promotion-chasing Peterborough faced Northampton on Friday
DARREN Ferguson toasted derby glory as Peterborough “ticked off” another success in their promotion quest.
Posh opened up an eightpoint gap on third-placed Sunderland – thanks to Sammie Szmodics’ double and a 30th goal of the campaign from leading scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris.
Posh chief Ferguson said: “It is all about results at this stage of the season and the most important thing is we picked up another good win.
“I knew it would be a tough derby and that was the case, but I’m sure our fans will be delighted we got the win and ticked off another game.
“I felt we were in complete control in terms of possession, but we were a little too slow with the ball and then forced it too much at others.
“Sammie only trained yesterday as he has a knock, but he is a fit boy and took his goals superbly.”
Szmodics provided a 33rdminute breakthrough when he darted into the box to fire home a low Dan Butler cross from the left, but skipper Mark Beevers then handed the Cobblers a lifeline.
Beevers clumsily impeded Town frontman Alex Jones as he attempted to cut out a Nathan Thompson back-pass and Sam Hoskins struck from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute to level.
Posh regained the initiative as Szmodics provided a perfect start to the second half, lifting the ball over advancing Cobblers keeper Jonathan Mitchell and finishing into the empty net in the 48th minute after being picked out by Jack Taylor.
And the points were sealed when Clarke-Harris slammed a 67th-minute penalty past Mitchell after Thompson was dumped to the deck by Hoskins, with Northampton remaining in the bottom four.
Interim Northampton boss Jon Brady said: “The goal we conceded in the first half was sloppy, but the reaction to it was excellent.
“We got the penalty, but I don’t understand how it was not a red card, too. It was surely a case of denying a goal-scoring opportunity and a decisive moment.
“The mood was positive at half-time at 1-1, but a mixup between two players after only three minutes of the second half led to us being punished.
“Poor decision-making at crucial times has been the story of the season and we gave Peterborough their second goal.
“We also gave away the penalty for their third, but we didn’t give in, we pushed hard and had some good spells.
“Our commitment is excellent but in crucial moments we throw the game away and that is so frustrating for a manager. “We know the situation we’re in. We’ve got four games of the season to go and Ipswich at home on Tuesday is a must win.”