Darren Ferguson has opened up about his decision to keep James Dornelly on the pitch during Peterborough United’s thrilling 4-3 League One victory over Crawley Town at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday.
Despite some defensive errors, the team secured a much-needed win after recent defeats to Reading, Burton, and local rivals Northampton.
Challenging Encounter
The match was not without its challenges, particularly for the young right-back Dornelly. Crawley’s first goal, scored by Ade Adeyemo, stemmed from a misjudged clearance by the 19-year-old, who mishandled a cross and inadvertently set up Adeyemo for a close-range finish. Dornelly was visibly upset, but support from teammates, including midfielder Archie Collins, helped him carry on until he was substituted in the 81st minute.
After the game, Ferguson defended his decision to keep Dornelly on the pitch, emphasising the importance of supporting young players during difficult moments. He also called on the team’s more experienced players to show greater leadership and character during tough situations.
“It was important we got James through to half time. He made a mistake and you could see he was visibly shaken, probably because he’s only a young boy. The worst thing I could have done to him was to take him off. That would have really affected him. I said, look your teammates are going to have to help you out now and they did,” Ferguson said.
He continued:
“I didn’t consider taking him off because a big part of my job with this group is protecting them. I was willing to take flak if James stayed on and made another mistake. I’m prepared to do that for this team. That is part of my job. They are going to make mistakes but I have to protect them, and one of the ways I did that with James was to keep him on.”
Need For More From Senior Players
Ferguson also highlighted the need for more consistent contributions from senior players. While praising some, such as Archie Collins for stepping up at key moments, he urged others to show greater responsibility to help the young squad through challenging situations.
“We are a young team, but several players have played a lot of games. These players need to help. I’m not saying they’re not, but we need them to show character. Archie was very good at 3-3, Hector is back, but we need more from others,” he added.
