MATCH REACTION: McCann in dreamland after derby success

Captain Chris Forrester headed the only goal of the game at Sixfields in the 92nd minute to complete a League One derby double over their greatest rivals.

A third straight League One win a row - and a fifth straight victory in all competitions - kept Posh in fifth place.

“The first game against Northampton this season was my best moment in management,” McCann revealed. “But this game has topped that one.

“To score a winning goal in the last minute at the home of your local rivals is what dreams are made of.

“I told the players at half-time to imagine what it would be like to score the winning goal in front of 1500 of our fans and now they know!

“We played some pretty football in the first half, but most of it was in our own half. I asked the lads to be braver and get the ball forward more quickly and they responded to a man. They were all outstanding.

“I felt it was a nothing game in terms of chances, but I felt there would be one more before the end of the game and luckily it fell to us.

“The ball couldn’t have fallen to a better player from our point of view than Marcus Maddison as he delivers fantastic balls into the penalty area and he produced it again. Tight games are often settled by midfielders making runs and Chris Forrester timed his run perfectly.

“We asked Chris to get forward more in the second half and it paid off.”

Forrester is guaranteed the headlines, but McCann made a point of congratulating his back four and goalkeeper after a second successive clean sheet.

“Luke McGee has been a tremendous signing for us,” McCann added. “The save he made towards the end from Matty Taylor’s free kick was very impressive.

“The back four were excellent again. We are working hard on our defending and the lads are responding. Ryan Tafazolli is coming up to his best, Jack Baldwin is playing well and Michael Smith and Andrew Hughes are giving good performances attacking and defending.

“Our fitness levels are also good which is a testament to Ben McKenzie and his sports science team.

“We’re going well, but we can’t relax. We have another huge game against Scunthorpe on Tuesday.”

Posh host League One leaders Scunthorpe United at the ABAX Stadium on Tuesday (November 22).