Peterborough United danger man Jonson Clarke-Harris has dismissed the points gap between the two clubs, in an interview with Sky Sports via quotes obtained from The Star, ahead of their playoff semi-final clash.
The two clubs finished with 19 points between them, as Sheffield Wednesday finished third and Peterborough scrambled into the playoff picture on the final day. That was helped by the Owls when they saw off Derby County at Hillsborough in a 1-0 victory over the Rams.
Sheffield Wednesday were in the hunt for the automatic promotion spots but missed out after a run of six games without a win, which saw Ipswich and Plymouth Argyle take the two spots that guarantee Championship football next season.
Jonson Clarke-Harris
It is not the first time the Jamaican forward has enjoyed a successful campaign at this level. In the 2020/21 season, he helped Peterborough earn promotion to the Championship as he netted 33 goals in that season. He could not repeat similar exploits in the second division, scoring 12 goals in 41 games in the Championship as Peterborough were once again relegated to League One.
The skipper is eyeing up an immediate return though as he grabbed the golden boot in League One this season, scoring 28 goals this season. Those exploits helped Posh into the playoff picture, albeit a nervy finish on the final day, as they anxiously awaited the result of Sheffield Wednesday’s fixture with Derby.
Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday looked on course for automatic promotion as they were top of the table for a duration of time. However, a run of six games without a win saw the club lose their grasp on the top spot as Plymouth Argyle took the opportunity to leapfrog them to eventually claim the title. Argyle were not the only side who took advantage of this opportunity either, Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich side also jumped above the Owls with some red hot form in the final stages of the season.
The Owls would finish third two points off the second automatic promotion place that Ipswich occupied, the fact that the club finished on 96 points and are in the playoffs speaks volumes of how competitive this automatic promotion chase has been, with that total usually enough to seal automatic promotion in any other division.
What’s been said?
The Posh skipper has been one of the most feared forwards in the EFL this season with his goalscoring exploits, his numbers show how lethal he is.
And speaking out ahead of the first leg with Sheffield Wednesday, he has come across confident as he laughed off the gap between the two teams in the table, claiming it does not matter where the two sides finished in the league.
“We’re all really excited. It doesn’t matter if they finished third and that we finished sixth. It’s about who is better on the day.”
The skipper has discussed their chances, as he hopes to give the fans their dream of promotion once again and a trip to Wembley. He also stated how is not affected by the gap, Peterborough overcame The Owls at London Road earlier in the season before defeat at Hillsborough.
“You do learn from games, we didn’t get it right when we went up to Hillsborough for that last game and to be fair the first home game they went down to 10 men which completely changed the game.”
Writer’s View
Clarke-Harris has been in incredible form once again this season and looks determined to deliver on the playoff promise to fans of the club.
And the fact he is coming into the fixture with such confidence has to be reassuring for the fans, Sheffield Wednesday are one of the heavy hitters of this division, tipped for automatic promotion and now coming through the playoffs, they have to be considered favourites surely.
Nevertheless, the skipper refuses to be intimidated by the Owls and that is key if they are to pick up victory and move on to Wembley.
