The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh: the verdict so far
Peterborough United star Marcus Maddison believes he has battled his way through a ‘tough six months’.
Maddison didn’t feature at the start of the current season after missing out on an expected move to the Championship.
He then struggled to find his best form, but he’s been a key man in the last three competitive Posh matches with a cracking goal in the 1-0 League One win over AFC Wimbledon, a brilliant assist in last weekend’s 2-2 FA Cup draw with Bradford City and two more assists in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Exeter City in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Maddison is now ready to help bring success to Posh.
“I’ve had a tough six months mentally,” Maddison admitted after the Exeter game. “And when the football isn’t going well it affects the rest of your life. That’s how it’s been with me.
“So it’s good to have that weekly routine back. Playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday is what I want.
“I have things going on, but football is my life. I’ve missed playing.
“I was surprised to read after my goal at Wimbledon it had been eight months since my previous goal. That’s not good. If I don’t score or create a goal I’m disappointed.”
Posh are now through to the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy, the draw for which takes place on Saturday, live on the Soccer Saturday show on Sky from 12.20pm. Posh would also now be preparing to face Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough in a third round FA Cup tie at the Riverside Stadium if they hadn’t thrown away a 2-0 lead against Bradford City in their second round tie at the ABAX Stadium last Saturday.
Posh now replay at Bradford next Tuesday (December 11) for the right to face Boro.
Posh manager Steve Evans said: “Six mad minutes against Bradford ruined what had been one of the best home performances of the season.
“We were excellent in the first-half. We were in total control and scored two quality goals. We asked the players to keep up their intensity in the second-half, but it didn’t happen. They still rarely looked like scoring until a centreback has struck a ‘worldie’ into the top corner and then we’ve conceded through a deflection.
“Of course it’s frustrating, but we didn’t get knocked out and we carried on our little unbeaten run at Exeter where we were very comfortable. We should have won five or six nil, but we are happy with the all-round performance against a decent Exeter side.”
Ivan Toney scored against Bradford and Exeter games to take his tally to five in his last six outings. Evans has though recalled young striker Matty Stevens from a loan spell at Slough Town after a run of 11 goals in 19 appearances. The 20-yearold could be in the squad against Oxford on Saturday.
Posh also saw former star player Simon Davies return to the club as an assistant to under 18 manager Matthew Etherington.
Posh were in FA Youth Cup third round action at Huddersfield last night (Wednesday). A report is on www. peterboroughtoday.co.uk
Ivan Toney has scored five goals in his last six Posh appearances.
Striker Matty Stevens has been recalled from a loan spell.
Posh star Marcus Maddison: ‘Football is my life .’