Peterborough United are coming to the boil at just the right time as matches are coming thick and fast

Ferguson was delighted with the performance in a 2-0 derby win at Northampton Town last weekend, a result that lifted Posh up to fifth.

Posh now host slow-starting promotion fancies Oxford United on Saturday (October 17) at the start of a hectic period which includes matches on three successive Tuesdays (all 7pm kick offs) against Wigan (away), Burton (home) and Bristol Rovers (away).

“The League One table will start taking shape now,” Ferguson stated. “There are a lot of games coming in quick succession and when they are over it’s important we are still in a decent position. We need to come through these busy weeks unscathed. With the pandemic ongoing we don’t know how this season will pan out so it’s vital we pick up as many points as we cn as quickly as we can.

“We are not at our best yet, but we are making progress. The only disappointment since the poor performance on the opening day of the season at Accrington, when we perhaps should have called the game off because of our positive Covid tests, has been the first half against Swindon.

“We look strong and fit. We look well prepared for a hectic run of games. We have good options and flexibility.

“My one concern is players not currently in the first team keeping up their match fitness as we won’t be having and reserve team matches while we are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.

“We will need everyone, even players like Niall Mason and Frazer Blake-Tracy who haven’t featured much yet. We will have to manage their fitness as well as we can.

“Oxford will be a test. They have a good manager and good players. I’m not fooled by their slow start. It’s still very early in the season.”

Posh welcome midfielder Jack Taylor back to the squad providing he passes an obligatory Covid test after his trip to Italy with Ireland Under 21s this week.