February fixtures are vital for Posh

Posh manager Darren Ferguson admits the February fixtures will make or break his side’s Championship season.

Posh started a run of six league games in 18 days at Cardiff City on Wednesday night. Included are matches against two bottom four sides - Reading and Derby - in the next fortnight after a home game with Preston on Saturday.

But Ferguson believes freshness could prove a trump card for Posh.

“There’s no hiding from the fact we are facing a pivotal month that will make or break our season,” Ferguson admitted. “But what we have got is freshness throughout the squad.

“Okay it’s because players haven’t been getting games or have been injured so we will have to manage them carefully, but Bali Mumba, Hayden Coulson, Reece Brown, Jack Marriott, Ricky-Jade Jones, Kwame Poku, Joel Randall and Callum Morton will all be very fresh which could be key in such a busy schedule.”

Derby increased the pressure on Posh by beating Hull City 3-1 at Pride Park on Tuesday.

The Rams moved to within two points of Posh as a result, but had played three more games.

Barnsley were beaten 2-1 at Luton on Tuesday to fall four points adrift at the bottom of the table.

KEY FEBRUARY MATCHES Saturday, February 12

Barnsley v QPR. Posh v Preston. Middlesbrough v Derby. Reading v Coventry.

Wednesday, February 16 Posh v Reading.

Saturday, February 19

Coventry v Barnsley. Derby v Posh. Preston v Reading.

Tuesday, February 22

Hull v Barnsley. Reading v Birmingham.

Wednesday, February 23

Derby v Millwall. Fulham v Posh.

Saturday, February 26

Barnsley v Middlesbrough. Blackpool v Reading. Luton v Derby.

Posh v Hull.