Perfect birthday present for boss as Posh played well, won and moved up to third place in League One

Goals from Jonson Clarke-Harris and Joe Ward secured a win that pushed Posh up a place to third on their gaffer’s 49th birthday.

Ferguson was delighted with the way Posh fought back from conceding a sloppy sixth minute goal.

“We were very good tonight,” Ferguson enthused. “I don’t think anyone from Ipswich would deny we deserved to win.

“We started slowly and conceded a sloppy goal and it took us 15 minutes to get going, but once we started getting the ball out wide we really dominated the game.

“We actually prepared for a different formation than the one they used, but they played a diamond and I know how to hurt that. We wanted to exploit them by switching the play and using width. We did it very well in the first half and eventually equalised from an excellent cross and a very good header back across the goalkeeper from ‘Jonno’.

“We started the second-half well even though they changed their shape. Joe scored a brilliant goal and we had other chances to score. We should have had a penalty for a blatant handball, but we failed to kill them off which was disappointing.

“You’re never over-comfortable at 2-1 and Christy Pym has pulled out a big save to stop them equalising late on from the only chance I can remember them mustering.

“We should have won by more, but it’s a thoroughly deserved three points and full credit to the lads.

“They are giving the club everything and for them to keep running on that pitch for 90 minutes for the second time in four days was a massive effort. We ran the second furthest distance of the season on Saturday so to play as well again was very encouraging.

“That’s five times we’ve come from behind to win and mainly against teams we thought would be in and around us in the table.

“It’s been a great birthday again. Last season we beat Oxford 4-0 on my birthday!”

Siriki Dembele missed tonight’s game with a knee injury which is not thought to be serious.