Opportunity knocks for the Posh fringe players, midfield diamond to be ditched, ticket sales have been poor

Manager Darren Ferguson will field a mix of first-team regulars and younger players in the first game in front of fans at London Road this season. Not that it will be a packed ground as Posh had sold fewer than 600 tickets for the game at 5pm today.

Idris Kanu, Harrison Burrows, Flynn Clarke, Ronnie Edwards and Serhat Tasdemir are all set to start tomorrow alongside senior players who need to find some form. Midfielder Reece Brown, who has been an unused substitute in the last two matches, can expect to play as can striker Mo Eisa and possibly Sammie Szmodics. The latter pair are in desperate need of a confidence boost in front of goal.

Ferguson is likely to ditch the midfield diamond, tomorrow and at the weekend, after it failed to spark an improvement in form at Portsmouth in Saturday’s League One fixture.

Posh have lost five of their last six competitive matches so good performances tomorrow could lead to a start against Rochdale in a League One game at London Road on Saturday.

“Our form has certainly opened up some opportunities tonight for those who haven’t been playing regularly,” Ferguson stated. “Idris, Burrows, Flynn and Serhat for a start. Idris deserves a chance. He was coming along nicely last season when he picked up a really bad injury.

“There are areas he needs to improve like his quality when attacking, but there’s a player in there. His attitude is always excellent which is a big positive.

“We’re looking forward to the game. It should be a good game, but we want to win. We’ve always wanted to progress in this competition.

“It won’t just be an under 23 side. Some of Saturday’s team will also play.

“We need to go back to a formation that suits us all. The diamond didn’t work on Saturday.

West Ham qualified for the knockout stages after winning all three of their group games against Portsmouth, Southend and Colchester.

Posh finished second in their group behind Cambridge United, but West Ham waived their right to play at home.

Joe Ward, Dan Butler and Ricky-Jade Jones remain sidelined.

Possible Posh team

(3-4-1-2)

Dan Gyollai

Niall Mason, Ronnie Edwards, Frazer Blake-Tracy.

Idris Kanu, Reece Brown, Ethan Hamilton, Harrison Burrows.

Serhat Tasdemir, Flynn Clarke.

Mo Eisa.