He shouldn't be of course because he has designed a style of football which can dazzle and thrill when employed as effectively it was in the opening 45 minutes against Hartlepool.

Unfortunately Craig Mackail-Smith's inability to finish consistently in the first-half was compounded by defensive errors no manager could possibly foresee.

A horrible goal gifted by the team's most experienced player was followed instantly by another following the sort of dithering and dallying normally only associated with OAP drivers, but on this occasion committed by two international footballers.

"Horrendous," was the Ferguson verdict on the howlers from Micah Hyde, Craig Morgan and Joe Lewis before he appeared to question his own future.

"I'm sick of repeating myself after games, but if it keeps happening I won't be here to keep saying it."

With luck his players will respond in the right manner this Saturday when any lapses into lunacy will be broadcast live on television.

All Ferguson has to reproach himself for in this match was the failure of Hyde's selection and the non-appearance late on of his substitute striker Scott Rendell when Posh were desperate for a goal.

Hyde looked off the pace before he ruined an excellent piece of tracking back by sliding the ball straight to visiting winger Andy Monkhouse who had the simple task of opening the scoring in the 58th minute.

A couple of minutes later and hesitation from Morgan and Lewis enabled Hartlepool substitute Richard Barker to nip in for a second goal which knocked the stuffing out of Posh.

They did rally through a sweet strike from George Boyd 12 minutes from time and the same player then delivered the perfect cross in injury time which was met by a bullet header from substitute Chris Whelpdale – unfortunately the ball flew straight at keeper Arran Lee-Barrett.

The level of performance dropped markedly after the break, but even Hartlepool looked shocked at celebrating three points at the final whistle. They offered very little to the game except dogged defence.

Bizarrely they created no chances of their own and yet scored twice. Lewis, whose huge reputation is not often reflected in his Posh performances, dropped a high cross at the feet of Anthony Sweeney soon after the re-start, but his fierce drive was brilliantly chested away by Shane Blackett.

Blackett played strongly at centre-back throughout, but it was the Posh forward players who caught the eye in mesmerising fashion in a first half dominated by Ferguson's entertainers.

The passing was crisp and inventive and the pace of play regularly stretched the visiting defence, but there was no end product, with Mackail-Smith the guilty party.

Boyd's brilliant chip set him free on 14 minutes, but Lee-Barrett smothered his shot and on the stroke of half-time he prodded wide of a gaping net after Boyd had glanced Russell Martin's cross towards goal.

A couple of penalty appeals waved away by infuriating referee Andrew Hall (at times he appeared to be wasting time more than the Pool players thanks to his love of the limelight) also ensured a goalless half-time scoreline which in no way reflected the balance of play.