ALAN SWANN’s verdict on Ipswich Town 1, Peterborough United 4: ‘Look out League One Posh can play even better, an improved forward line, transfer triumphs, yellow peril for Ivan Toney and Ipswich, Hull, Marcus Maddison and Grant McCann could be in League One next season’

Once a hectic opening 10 minutes were out of the way, Posh were always superior to disappointing opposition, but at half-time the sides were only separated by a penalty and a freak goal from Sammie Szmodics.

Posh were excellent after the break though and thoroughly deserved their sizeable victory. They were a constant threat on the counter attack and defended so comfortably ’keeper Christy Pym was beaten by Town’s only second-half shot on target, and that was a penalty.

This team has yet to reach the dazzling, pure footballing heights of the last Posh promotion team from the third tier and the delivery into the penalty area from wide areas remains erratic, but finding criticism after thumping one of the biggest clubs in the division on their own patch just shows how good this side could become.

We all got stuck into manager Darren Ferguson for hanging onto the midfield diamond for so long, but he should be praised for integrating three new players so quickly into a formation that clearly suits the entire squad’s talents.

This Posh team is not shy of the long ball/pass and why not? The more a fearsome front three are in possession the better.

Other talking points from yesterday...

FEARSOME FORWARDS

The regular front three before Christmas carried Posh in matches, but the current front three is even better. Ivan Toney is the only constant and his contribution remains excellent, and not just because he is now on 21 goals for the campaign in all competitions. Toney’s heading ability and hold-up play is being shown more favourably because Siriki Dembele’s pace and anticipation enables him to to get closer to his partner than Mo Eisa ever did. Eisa might still have the edge in finishing, but Dembele’s expertly taken goal suggests the younger player can contribute goals for the rest of the season. Dembele carries the ball better than Eisa and he has started to realise the benefits of bringing others into the game. His assist on the fourth goal for Szmodics was a gem.

Szmodics is a different player to Marcus Maddison and won’t score the 25 yarders the soon-to-be-forgotten forward managed, or deliver the same level of quality balls from wide areas, but what he offers is boundless enthusiasm, an outstanding work ethic and an ability to get into the penalty area to finish the good work of others. Maddison certainly wouldn’t have scored the first Szmodics goal yesterday as he wouldn’t have bothered running into the penalty area to close down a goalkeeper.

YELLOW PERIL

Just a word of warning. Toney has eight League One cautions this season and 10 triggers a two-game ban. Toney has to survive until the end of the 37th match (Posh have currently played 30) before his yellow card count is wiped clean. He wasn’t cautioned yesterday, but he still got needlessly involved in ‘debates’ with inconsistent referee Andy Woolmer. Toney is the one player with no obvious replacement in the squad.

FEET ON THE GROUND

Just as we were all too quick to write Posh off as promotion candidates, it’s important not to get over-excited now, even though three of the top four in League One have been deservedly despatched in the current winning streak. Football is fickle and existing levels of desire, determination and attitude need to be maintained.

Having said that don’t rule out automatic promotion just because the likes of Coventry and Portsmouth seem set to steam past Posh when they catch up on their games in hand.

Posh are only four points off top spot, and one point behind second-placed Wycombe. They will certainly overtake the latter - the division’s over-achievers - soon enough.

FALLEN GIANTS

Ipswich, like Sunderland last season, appear to have under-estimated League One. Their tactics yesterday were primitive with hoofs aplenty. They played the same system as Posh yesterday, but the difference in the respective forward players was stark. The Tractor Boys have a favourable run-in once February is out of the way, but there are many better teams in League One and they will need to improve just to finish in the top six.

TRANSFER TRIUMPHS

It’s such a shame Posh weren’t successful in their attempts to sign Jack Taylor, Reece Brown and Szmodics in the summer. Szmodics I’ve covered already, but Taylor looks a complete midfielder who can pass - one glorious goal assist yesterday - and tough it out. Reece Brown is impressive in a much more understated way. I did think he was going to struggle physically, but he’s excellent in possession in tight areas as he sees a pass quickly and he’s usually accurate. I’m looking forward to a game when Posh boss the ball - struggling Southend are at London Road on February 11 - as I believe both Brown and Taylor have goals in their locker. Alex Woodyard and George Boyd, sort of, also brought energy to the Posh midfield in the first-half of the season, but without the quality the new lads have brought.

SQUAD MANAGEMENT

Ferguson touched on it yesterday. He named an unchanged team for the fourth game in a row and as all four games have been won it’s likely the same 11 will start against Oxford next Saturday (February 8). Josh Knight isn’t on loan from Leicester to sit on the bench, while Rhys Bennett might still be wondering why defensive competence has been followed by the axe. Ferguson said he’s never left George Boyd out of a side for this long, but luclily for him and for Posh, this is a tight-knit squad and the players mentioned are not likely to rock the boat.

MADDISON AND MCCANN

It’s a good job Hull City have a 10-point cushion to the Championship relegation zone as January dealings has left them with a relegation-standard squad. I can’t see Marcus Maddison succeeding when the likes of Tom Eaves and Josh Magennis are his main striker targets.