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Posh ready for massive upset against West Ham
Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony helps clear the pitch of snow on Thursday. Photo: Joe Dent/www.theposh.com
Peterborough United believe they can deliver a Championship giant-killing by beating leaders West Ham in front of a sell-out London Road crowd on Saturday (3pm).
Manager Darren Ferguson senses that his players are in the mood to cause a massive upset and register their first win of 2012.
It appears to be a tall order as the Hammers are four points clear at the top and look odds-on favourites to make an immediate return to the top flight.
Posh are 18th and haven’t won a match since Boxing Day.
But Ferguson said: “We lacked a bit of belief when we played them at their place and that won’t be the case tomorrow.
“We still only lost that day to a soft penalty and they were hanging on a bit at the end so we know we can trouble them.
“Obviously they are a big, strong side who have have made some good signings in January. They are excellent at set-pieces and we will need a strong referee because they have won more penalties than any other side in the Championship.
“But we will try and impose our game on them. If we pass the ball well and keep the ball well we can cause them problems.
“It’s a game every one of my players is looking forward to and it’s definitely a game we can win. Ipswich beat them 5-1 recently which shows what can happen in this league,”
Ferguson is set to hand a debut to new loan signing Matthew Briggs. Briggs is on loan from Premier League side Fulham and will start at left-back with Craig Alcock favourite to play right-back ahead of Mark Little and Tommy Rowe expected to move back into midfield.
Ferguson added: “I haven’t picked my team yet, but I am excited by having Matthew in the squad. I rate him very highly and I’ve been trying to sign him for a year.
“He’s a Premier League player really so I expect he will go well for us. He’s a natural left-footer so he will give us balance when we are attacking.”
Posh are expected to stick with David Ball and Paul Taylor as a strike pairing. Ferguson revealed that he needed to get a rest into fleet-footed forward Emile Sinclair as he had been involved in 23 games in a row.
Groundstaff confident game will go ahead
POSH remain confident that the match will go ahead, even club chairman Darragh MacAnthony mucked in during a ground clearance operation yesterday. He and members of the Posh youth team removed several inches of snow from the pitch.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “I’ve had a meeting with the head groundsman and other people who know more than me and they are confident the game will take place.
“The snow has helped the pitch cover protect the surface and as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below minus two I reckon we will be okay to play,
“We certainly want the game on.”
There are no safety issues with the area surrounding the stadium.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
This is a rubbish website
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:46 PMFergie quote "we will need a strong referee because they have won more penalties than any other side in the Championship". Sheer class, just like his old man. He's learning all the time. However feeling a bit pessimistic - I sense us getting a player sent off or them being awarded a penalty or the game postponed. UTP!
RMS_70
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:51 PMminus 7 outside at mo
SHEILDOUGIE
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:25 PMIts not just getting the pitch playable by 10am,, Its what will it be like at say 4pm when the temperatures will fall dramatically and the pitch becomes a skating rink and a danger to the players.
Apsleyman
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:20 PMThe only upset will be the fans - upset because the game is called off!
GNAT
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:40 AMI know west ham were down to 10 men last week, but they certainly didnt look world beaters by any means. We can certainly give them a game. Sinclair given a rest ? hes been on the bench for three weeks . He must be exhausted bless him. Still he can cuddle up with Jones, who is tired beyond Sleeping Beauty proportions by the look of it . Anyway, full house, great game and turn the heating up please. Oh by the way Fergie, the weather report on this page says it will be minus four overnight, lets hope he means daytime temps of minus two. ! Keep the Faith. Up the Posh . Lads excellent in training !
ForeverPosh
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:40 AMWe all want the game on but it's forecast for -4C tonight......
mangun
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:27 AMThats the last we have seen of sinclair then.
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