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Strike alight: new Posh strike force a hit at Burnely
Burnley v Posh: Paul Taylor celebrates his goal. Photo: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
DARREN Ferguson believes he could have discovered a top Peterborough United strike partnership in Paul Taylor and David Ball.
The pair started a match together for the first time in Saturday’s creditable 1-1 Championship draw at Burnley. Taylor claimed his seventh goal of a decent first full season at the club, while Ball impressed with his link-up play and was unlucky not to score when his first-half shot struck the inside of the post.
They were among the highlights of a much improved Posh display at Turf Moor and manager Ferguson is hopeful his new strike force will lead to a better goals return.
Posh have not scored more than one goal in a game since the 4-3 home defeat by Barnsley on December 3.
Ferguson said: “I was pleased with David and Paul. They played well as individuals at Burnley and they played well together.
“We’ve tried different strikers together at times this season. Emile Sinclair and Lee Tomlin did well together for a time, but I was also encouraged by what I saw at Burnley.
“Paul was a real goal threat. He is capable of scoring outstanding goals which he showed again on Saturday, while David is a very intelligent footballer.
“David is very aware tactically. If I ask him to play a certain way he takes it on board very quickly.
“It’s a shame David didn’t score on Saturday as his performance deserved it. We were much better all-round at Burnley and a lot of it was down to the front two.”
Ferguson revealed that he has his eye on two centre-backs as replacements for Norwich-bound Ryan Bennett, but he does not expect to bring anyone to London Road until the end of the month,
Bennett was signed by Norwich for a fee believed to be in the region of £3.2 million on transfer deadline day last week. The Canaries immediately loaned him back to London Road until the end of February.
Bennett has four Posh games remaining. The transfer window for loans opens again tomorrow.
Ferguson added: “I have two replacements for Ryan on my mind. One is an experienced player and the other is a younger footballer.
“When the new one arrives will depend on which one I get. Ryan was outstanding again at Burnley though so I don’t see the newcomer playing until he’s gone.
“Ryan still sees himself as a Posh player anyway. His commitment was excellent at Burnley as was the whole team’s in pretty horrible conditions.”
Posh are next in action against Championship table-toppers West Ham at London Road on Saturday. The all-ticket clash was sold out last week.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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Wind direction: East
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
ThePosh78
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:25 AMMaybe lightweight but no defender likes pace and if they link up well who knows!
undergroundErnie
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:09 PMBadger, do you mean behind the front 2 rows in the family stand ? yeh I will go for that pairing up front
henryjames
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:30 PModds on tomlin and sinclair starting saturday? hopefully taylor and ball get the run they deserve. be good to see fergie use his subs wisely. get a goal then learn to defend.
feduppete
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 02:36 PMSo was I. I thought the two should be playing behind Sinclair weeks ago with Tomlin as an impact player as sub. Plenty of impact there and nearly as big as a sub lol.
MattyWeston
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 02:11 PMI too hope that Taylor (The "Cannon") and Ball start up top together on Saturday. I used to think Ball had all the technique but was lightweight, but i have to say he's looking a really good player at the moment whenever i see him. I remember going to Stevenage on an evening in the cup this season and he was clinical in front of goal that night - looked like a real goal scorer. Saturday is a different standard, but i believe in him. His time has come i think. He's the only striker ive seen in a long while at Posh that feeds in that penalty spot to 6 yard area, and that is prepared to gamble and attack the near post and lose his man. Just what we need. UTP!
stuposh
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:45 PMHoping Taylor and Ball start again on saturday. Tomlin's best position is just behind the front two anyway.
PB123
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:01 PMPosh fans need to get right behind the team Sat as the 'extra man' factor will count against the biggest club in this division!they are beatable though and I hope Posh go on to show this come Sat.we will need at least 3 goals from the new found super striker partnership of Taylor and Ball though and I have faith in them.onwards and upwards UTP :)
doggo
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:58 PM"bears are not going into the woods to play badminton " Gnat@1 - How could you! You've just shattered my childhood belief...............
ThePosh78
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:39 PMLets hope we've turned the corner, get a good point on Saturday then we can climb back up that league table. I would prefer DF to get a experienced defender til the end of the season tho
Danhar
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:38 PM@ 1 Gnat, It is slightly alarmng as most fans thought the same but Fergie still persisted with Sinclair and Tomlin. Lets hope he realises soon that Rowe is awful and Frecks is an average Championship player (good sub) and then replaces with them quality, pace and creativity. Kearns needs a run in the team and would be a good replacement for Rowe. I do sometimes think the manager should sit in the stands and watch a game with the spectators as a spectator and not get emotionally involved sometimes as they might see things in a different light. Lets hope the good earned point isn't spoilt with a sad display in front of a packed crowd on Saturday, its another good opportunity to impress a few who may come back for another game or two. UTP
DonB
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:23 PMI was ecstatic when our team at Burnley was announced, the front pairing looked exciting. It was! Perhaps now Tomlin will now come under scrutiny, his input is minimal these days.
Leo87
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:01 PM@1 couldn't of put it better myself!
Bamboozler
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:42 AMBingo!, only 20 games after the supporters noticed. Now we can recover some lost ground.
GNAT
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:28 AMThe partnership of Ball and Taylor is one that I for one was calling for at the start of the season. The penny seems to have dropped at last . Next week Fergie may discover the Pope is Catholic and bears are not going into the woods to play badminton . Keep the faith. Up the Posh . Lads excellent in training !.
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