Peterborough United boss backs his front three to fire Posh to promotion

Top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris is expected to be flanked by Sammie Szmodics and Siriki Dembele again when Posh host promotion rivals Charlton Athletic at the Weston Homes Stadium tonight (January 19, 6.30pm kick off).

Clarke-Harris made it eight goals in eight games when opening the scoring in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over MK Dons before Dembele created two goals for a rejuvenated Szmodics.

Ferguson said: “I’ve been really pleased with the front three since we started playing again. Certainly in the last two games Sammie and Siriki have played with a real intensity and Jonson just keeps on scoring. Those players playing well is key for us. When they play well it makes us a better team.

“And we do look good at the moment. It’s vital we keep everyone fit and fresh which is a challenge when the turnaround between games is so quick, but touch wood we are all clear of Covid and all fit and well.”

Ferguson has a decision to make as experienced defender Nathan Thompson is available again after serving his second suspension of the season on Saturday, but his replacement Niall Mason was outstanding against Dons.

Teenage defender Ronnie Edwards is back at the club after self-isolating for close to a month, He is expected to be available for the trip to Shrewsbury on January 30.

It’s a big game in the promotion race tonight as sixth-placed Charlton are level on points with fifth-placed Posh, although the Londoners have played two more games.

“Charlton will always be strong at this level,” Ferguson added. “I fully expect them and us to be around the top at the end of the season.

“They are quite a physical team- they’ve had a few players sent off recently - but they have some good quality at the top end of the pitch so it’s going to be another tough game. They’ve used four different formations in their last six games, but they managed a win at the weekend so they come here in better form,

“We will show Charlton full respect, but we will concentrate on our own game and hope we can cause them plenty of problems. At full tilt we are a very good League One side.

“There are no real surprises in the top 10. Almost all of the teams you’d expect to be in there are there, but there will lots of jockeying for positions with so many games in a short space of time and we just have to make sure we stay in and around the top.

“The focus for now is Charlton. We won’t think about the game at Ipswich until this one is over. That’s the way it has to be.”

Charlton are expected to field former Posh striker Conor Washington, but Marcus Maddison is a big doubt because of an ankle injury. Washington has scored six League One goals this season.