MATCH PREVIEW: CMS confident the goals will flow soon

Criag Mackail-Smith celebrates his 99th Posh goal against Huddersfield in May, 2011.

Almost six years ago Mackail-Smith moved on to 99 Posh goals with the second strike in a 3-0 League One Play-off Final win over Huddersfield at Old Trafford.

The fans’ favourite left for Brighton in a £2.5 million move that summer, but he’s back at the ABAX Stadium now and desperately searching for Posh goal number 100. Hopefully it will arrive in the League One home match with Oxford on Saturday (March 11).

The 33 year-old, who is on loan for the rest of the season from Luton, believes he might have been striving for the milestone a little too hard, but he’s confident once it arrives, more goals will follow.

Craig Mackail-Smith battles for possession with Bradford City's Nat Knight-Percival.

“I’d take a first-minute goal or a last-minute goal against Oxford as long as it’s the winner,” Mackail-Smith stated.

“And you never know if we do beat Oxford it could set us on a run of wins that could lead all the way to the play-offs.

“We had a tough week with defeats against two strong sides in Millwall and Bradford City, but no-one at the club is giving up.

“Form and confidence can return with one good win and our focus is on beating a very good Oxford side on Saturday.

“I watched Oxford beat Luton last week and they were very impressive going forward, but we can beat them if we play to our best.

“I hope I am involved. I feel fit, strong and injury free, and I’m loving playing football regularly again.

“I’m desperate to get that 100th goal. I love this club with a passion and to reach such a big milestone would be great.

“But I’d rather all the talk was about a promotion push. I really need to get the 100th goal as quickly as possible so I can forget about it and concentrate on scoring regularly. I’m sure one goal would lead to more goals and I’m also sure that first goal is just around the corner.

“I’m still getting used to my team-mates and they are still getting used to me. The passes are not quite matching my runs, but we are all trying hard to improve and to learn. They are good lads here.

“I want to repay the faith the chairman and manager showed in me by giving me the opportunity to play first-team football again.

“They could have said ‘no’ because of my injury problems, but even when I was sitting on the substitutes’ bench and not playing much at Luton, I was confident the worst was behind me.”