The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Matt finish boosts Posh
Posh striker Matt Godden says he’s had his confidence restored by manager Darren Ferguson and is raring to go on another goalscoring run.
Godden made a flying start to the season with 13 goals in the first 20 matches and earned rave reviews.
But then a drought set in and it was just one goal in 19 matches . . . that was until Saturday when he scored twice in the 4-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers.
It was perhaps apt that the team which ended Godden’s goal drought were Wanderers, as it was after the reverse fixture in November - a 1-0 defeat - where the 27-year-old felt the wrath of then manager Steve Evans, who laid the blame of Posh’s first away league defeat at his striker for missing a great chance at 0-0.
Asked if that moment had changed things for him this season, Godden said: “A little bit, yeah. I was on a good run of form, but that’s in the past. I don’t want to talk about what happened in the past.
“I look forward to next week now. I’ve got two goals under my belt and I’ll try and get on another run.
“I can’t hide away from the fact that I had a great start and quietened down. But now it’s about getting confidence from this match.
“My confidence took a little hit under the previous manager but that’s for me to pick myself up – and the gaffer here has picked me up.
“He told me he believes I’m a good player and I’m delighted to get the two goals. Hopefully I’ll go on another run like the start of the season.”
Godden needed just seven minutes to end his goal drought, firing in from inside the six-yard box after a superb, low cross to the back post from Marcus Maddison.
The same pair combined three minutes later, this time with Godden getting on the end of Maddison’s through ball to calmly slot it into the far corner.
Godden also supplied the assist for the fourth Posh goal scored by Maddison.
And the striker nearly pinched a hat-trick late on (from another Maddison cross) but was correctly ruled offside, according to replays.
Ferguson said of Godden: “I am delighted for him. He’s a magnificent player and a great lad.
“When I came here he was down on confidence but he trained well, stuck at it and now he’s got a smile back on his face. He’s a goalscorer. He’ll always score goals.”
Ferguson was naturally delighted with the win.
He said: “In the first half we were very, very good. The first 15 minutes we were fantastic, especially the front three. We started on the front foot and played some terrific football. We need to be on the front foot from the start at home.
“In the second half we had to dig it out. But a win’s a win. I’m delighted with two wins out of three games and no red cards. When we have 11 players we can win games.
“Now it’s important we build on this result.”