The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh won’t be put off by really bad recent results
Posh boss Darren Ferguson insists recent history will have no bearing on the outcome of a League One playoff semi-final against Oxford United.
Posh return to the scene of their heaviest defeat of the season on Saturday (7.45pm kick off ) as Oxford thrashed Posh 5-0 at the Kassam Stadium just less than three weeks ago.
It was a handsome win for the home side, one picked up without the help of key players Elliott Moore and Cameron Brannagan, although Posh were playing their third game in six days which included an emotional EFL Trophy Final win at Wembley.
Ferguson is also expecting questions to be asked re last season’s play-off semi-final when they surrendered a 4-0 first-leg lead to Sheffield Wednesday before bowing out on penalties.
"Past matches won’t mean a thing on Saturday,” Ferguson insisted. “Certainly last season’s play-off match is irrelevant as I doubt that will happen again to any club at any time.
"Hillsborough was a unique experience for us. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the one was faced up there and we didn’t cope with it.
"It was a freak result though and we didn’t have much luck, but on Saturday we won’t be thinking about that or the game at Oxford last month.
"I watched the Oxford game back the other day and we were actually in control for the first 15 minutes, but we then gifted them two goals and we ended up losing heavily.
"They had a lot of energy that day and we didn’t have any after a long week. They were very good and we deserved to lose. These things can happen, but I can’t see us performing as badly as that again.
"Oxford are a very good side though with very talented players and it will be a tough game for sure.
“Moore and Brannagan are two of their most experienced players and I’m sure they will play this time, but we just have to make sure we get our performance spot on.
"It’s nothing to do with wanting revenge. It’s just a big game we want perform well in and win."
Ferguson will give winger Kwame Poku a late fitness test ahead of the first-leg.
The 22 year-old picked up an ankle injury soon after going on against Fleetwood as a second-half substitute on April 16. It’s unrelated to the ankle injury that kept him out for several weeks earlier this year.
Squad striker Jacob Wakeling is likely to miss out as injury issues that have plagued the summer signing from Swindon Town have struck again.
"Kwame is looking good, but it will be a late decision on him,” Ferguson added. “We can’t take any risks with the possibility of two more games to come.
"David Ajiboye has done very well on the right hand side in Kwame’s absence though. I’ve been very happy with him. He’s been very disciplined in his approach.
"He’s a very different player in terms of style to Kwame, but he’s been very consistent for us.
"Jacob has had more bad luck. He rolled an ankle in training on Sunday.
"He has not been ruled out yet, but it’s not looking good for him.”
Ferguson confirmed there are no other injury concerns as Posh seek to book a second trip to Wembley this season.