Darren Ferguson pleased with the performance but not the result as Peterborough United fall to disappointing Fleetwood defeat

Ferguson’s side saw their play-off ambitions suffer another blow after falling to a second successive loss. They had been thumped 5-0 at home by high flying Bolton on Saturday.

Posh remain ninth, but are now nine points off the play-off places

Posh enjoyed 68% possession at Highbury, but couldn’t peg back Fleetwood’s first-half goal which came from their only effort on target in the whole match.

It was his side’s control of the game that pleased Ferguson most, although he was naturally frustrated by the result.

"My reaction is one of disappointment,” Ferguson said. “We need to be ruthless in terms of converting clear-cut chances, but in terms of how we dominated the ball, it’s exactly how I want my players to play.

“I knew I’d get a response from Saturday, but we just gave such a soft goal away and that gave them something to hang onto.

"I’m not happy with the result, but I am happy with the performance but I’ve said many times, I’d rather we played rubbish and won.

"It’s a very disappointed dressing room given the performance levels away from home - where form has been terrible - and we’ve now had three games we should have won.

“It was a terrible goal to concede. We played into an area we didn’t have to and we’ve got to defend the cross better. It was all just too easy.

"We had started the game so well. We were so dominant and caused them all sorts of problems. The one criticism is we did not make enough clear-cut chances as I’d hoped.

"Before the goal, we were in control of the game. To get so much control away from home can be difficult, but the manner in which we did it was very pleasing.

“The goal gave them a lift but there was no need to panic. We started the second half quite wel,l but we didn’t dominate the game. I can’t remember a clear-cut chance we had, which was the most disappointing thing.”

Ferguson was left angered by the decision of referee Martin Woods to deny Posh a penalty midway through the second half. The coaching staff were enraged their protests were waved away after Jonson Clarke-Harris collided with home ‘keeper Jay Lynch.

Ferguson also maintained his belief Posh can still make the play-offs, despite the strength of the teams above them in the race.

He added: “We’ve had a clear penalty not given for whatever reason. There was clear contact.

"It’s never good to have back-to-back defeats, but it’s a game we didn’t deserve to lose.

“I knew coming into the job it was going to be very difficult because the teams above us are strong and they’ve shown that. We’ve got to keep believing though.

"It’s a gap, but I wouldn’t say it’s a massive one. Teams are catchable, but it is going to be hard. I've got to make sure the players keep believing in how we want to play and keep taking it one game at a time.

"We have now got to go to Morecambe and get a win.”

Posh will travel to the Mazuma Stadium for the first time ever on Saturday looking to get back on track.

Derek Adams’ men sit 21st after a 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Tuesday.