Peterborough United boss on the positives as well as the negatives from the latest defeat, plus injury update

Savage, a high energy character, admits he was deflated by a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Luton Town at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday, but he spent as much of his post-match press conference accentuating the positives as he did bemoaning the regular negatives of conceding poor goals and failing to convert their own scoring chances.

The return to action of Sam Hughes for the first time in almost 18 months and the improved form of Bolu Shofowoke did provide optimism for the future.

An early goal in each half won the day for Luton and sent Posh down a place to 22nd after Wigan Athletic, who started the day bottom of the table, beat Bromley 3-2. Posh are only a point from safety, but that gap could grow in the next few days as struggling Blackpool visit Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, while Wigan are at home to Mansfield Town on Tuesday (November 3).

"You can’t start games like we did,” Savage admitted. “And it happened again in the second half, but on both occasions we reacted really well. We hit the underside of the bar from four yards in the first-half and our liveliest player, Bolu Shofowoke, created moments in the second-half which we didn’t take.

"I have so much faith in this group players. It’s been deflating watching us miss so many chances in the last four games – and they are good chances - but the only stat that really matters is the scoreline and we lost 2-0. If you can’t keep clean sheets and if you don’t convert chances you have no chance.

“But it has to click for this group soon. I stand there and stare in disbelief at how we don’t score from the chance swe create. They are trying so hard and working so hard, and they are a really good group. We will keep working on our ruthlessness in both penalty areas and we will keep trying to instill belief. It’s vital we expend every ounce of energy to stop crosses into our box one at end and to cross the ball well and get on the end of them at the other end.

"It was great to see Sam back. He will be a huge player for us going forward. He made two great blocks to prove how much we have missed him, while Tom O’Connor also got through another 90 minutes.

“Sam will probably start against Reading next weekend.”

Posh are next in action at home to Reading in a first round FA Cup match at London Road next Saturday (November 7, 8pm kick off) .

Winger Owura Edwards, who wasn’t involved against Luton, will miss the cup tie as he faces another 10 days on the sidelines.