After a 4-3 league win over Crawley Town Followed by a 3-0 drumming of Northampton Town in the EFL Trophy knockout stage two weeks ago , Peterborough United would have been hoping for an upturn in form to try and close 2024 out in a positive way.
But the last three games have been anything but positive, with three consecutive defeats, eight goals conceded and two red cards in as many games. There seems like there is a lot of discontent on and off the pitch, with supporters becoming increasingly frustrated with their sides performances.
A 1-3 defeat and home to Barnsley was today’s result, a win that took the visitors to within touching distance of the playoffs, which is where The Posh have been aiming to get to all season.
Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph after the game, manager Darren Ferguson acknowledged that it has been a difficult period for players and fans:
“It’s difficult at the moment. Defensively there’s certain things I’m not happy with, but I can’t criticise my players today in terms of their effort and commitment. It’s just that everything that can go wrong is going wrong. That’s not an excuse, but we need a break and at 2-1, we get back into it and then get a man sent off which just killed the momentum.
“Things are going against us. We’re on a bad run, but we’ve got to stick together and my staff have to remain positive with them. I’ve got to use all my experience. We will get out of it, I’m convinced of that.
“All I can do now is try and keep them positive and keep the belief in the camp. We are going through a hell of a bad run. They are a really young group so we have to help them as best we can. In football, losing doesn’t continue every week like winning every week doesn’t continue.
Ferguson came under real criticism for his team selection for this fixture, perhaps the most surprising decision being not to include tricky attacker Joel Randall in the matchday squad at all:
“It’s a footballing decision. Conn-Clarke has deserved his chance, I think everyone can see that. When you play the diamond with two strikers. Chris is different to Joel, he will play in behind whereas Joel is a bit of a running 10. If you play a diamond, you need someone to connect”
Writers View
Whilst they may have been expected to challenge for promotion at the start of the season The Posh are now 18th in the division and only four points above the drop zone, something that everyone at the club will know is unacceptable at this stage in the season for a club of their stature with their ambition.
You could argue time may be running out for Darren Ferguson to fix it with games slipping away fast. Burton away next, a side who have only won twice all season and are bottom of the league, expect a big performance to turn this around.
