The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Arsenal eye Posh talent
It’s five competitive matches without a win for Posh, but manager Grant McCann believes his team turned a corner during their 1-1 draw at Southend on Tuesday.
That point, courtesy of a 10th goal of the season from top scorer Jack Marriott, at least ended a run of three League One defeats in a row.
But Posh have now failed to beat struggling sides Oldham, Gillingham, Northampton (Checkatrade Trophy) and Southend in their current run as well as an impressive Oxford side.
But Posh are still in touch with those currently contesting the League One play-off places. They are eighth, one point outside the top six ahead of Saturday’s game at mid-table Scunthorpe.
They dropped out of the play-off places after losing 1-0 at home to Gillingham last weekend.
“It was a brave performance at Southend,” McCann stated. “I was proud of the players for how they reacted to the disappointment of fall- ing behind. We didn’t respond well when Gillingham scored first, but it was a different story at Southend.
“We had to stop the losing run and we achieved it. We are disappointed not to have won the game, but we will take the draw and move on to another tough game at Scunthorpe.
“The Southend performance pleased me. It’s not an easy place to play. I always found it difficult when I was playing here as the pitch is tight and there never appears to be much room. We were facing a big, strong side who are unbeaten at home and who play aggressively, but we stood up to them well.
“I love the spirit and togetherness in our dressing room. The players have stuck together during the bad run and I’m confident we have turned a corner now.
“We have something to build on. Teams always have a blip and maybe we have got ours out of the way early.
“Teams who win automatic promotion from this division tend to not lose more than 8-10 matches so we still have some leeway.”
McCann was less happy af- ter the Gillingham game. He was locked in talks with chairman Darragh MacAnthony for close to an hour after a fourth defeat of the Leaguer One season. It was just the Gills’ second win of the season and only their seventh goal.
“The chairman was as frustrated as me and the players,” McCann said. “I didn’t see that performance coming as the players looked fresh and sharp in the build-up.
“But we were slow and lethargic. We didn’t seem able to get about the field and as a result we didn’t put them under enough pressure.
“But we remain in a good position in the league. Because we started so well, the fact we have slipped back a bit makes it disappointing.
“But we are within a point of the top six and we are six points behind third place with a game in hand.”
Posh finish their October programme with a home match against unbeaten Shrewsbury on the 28th.
Midfielder Callum Chettle made his first appearance of the season as a substitute at Southend. He almost won the game late on.
Grant McCann believes Posh will soon be back in winning form.
Callum Chettle returned to action for Posh at Southend.
Grant McCann: “I love the spirit and togetherness in our dressing room.”