Peterborough United comment: How to complete six wins in a row, seal a place in the top two, score four goals in three successive Football League matches for the first time in 60 years, and yet still be disappointed because one player is so vital to the team’s chances of success

Posh striker Ivan Toney can't quite reach a cross in the game against Southend. Photo: David Lowndes.

That’s how vital Ivan Toney is to this Peterborough United team. That’s why his caution, another rather needless one, in a comfortable victory over Southend United was the night’s most significant moment.

It’s now a two-game suspension for the 25-goal forward who will miss the trips to Fleetwood on Saturday (February 15) and to Burton on February 29. Toney didn’t play against Burton in the home match earlier this season because of suspension and Posh won 1-0, but they played poorly and a rocket of a shot in the final minute from Joe Ward baled them out. Lightning probably won’t strike twice even though a much improved, and in-form, defence does offer hope of another clean sheet.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson tried to put on a brave face after the Southend romp claiming there is talent among the back-up boys. There is, but neither Mo Eisa nor Ricky-Jade Jones can truly replace a man whose sheer physicality and hold-up play gets Posh up the field and whose partnership with Siriki Dembele is capable of terrorising any League One defence. Dembele scored for the third straight game last night.

George Boyd in action for Posh against Southend. Photo: David Lowndes.

And never mind Toney’s goalscoring ability - two in five minutes last night, five in the last three games and eight of the 20 Posh have scored in this six-game winning streak - Toney is also the best defender of a set-piece in the squad.

One suspects Ferguson will be working hard on the team’s possession play in midfield before a tough weekend trip. Posh will have to play round and through Fleetwood which will be no easy task if Storm Dennis hits the Lancashire Coast as predicted on Saturday. The last thing Posh want is a ball gathering air miles and a stop-start affair like the one that played out at the Weston Homes Stadium last night.

Posh will certainly need to pass the ball better than they did in the first-half against a Southend side so short of options they fielded three teenage full debutants. One probable change is the introduction of Josh Knight’s energy and athleticism in midfield from the start in place of Reece Brown whose fine hand in Dembele’s opening goal last night was in contrast to the rest of his performance.

Nathan Thompson is a certainty to return after missing the Southend game because of suspension and Rhys Bennett rather than Niall Mason might stay in the side given the likely need for height and strength.

Joe Ward in action for Posh v Southend. Photo: David Lowndes.

Presuming Ferguson doesn’t change formation to only play one up, Eisa is likely to get the nod to replace Toney. The 13-goal striker hasn’t scored since December 7 though and his late opportunity last night was ruined by the taking of an extra touch on the edge of the penalty area, a sure sign of a lack of confidence.

Fleetwood played very deep against Posh on the opening day of the season and will likely do so again given the success of that tactic and the threat of the pace supplied by Dembele and Sammie Szmodics, presuming the latter is fully fit after he surprisingly stayed on for an hour last night despite limited movement following a knock in the opening moments. A deep-lying defence is not what teenage speedster Ricky-Jade Jones wants so a starting place for the youngster is unlikely.

Fleetwood also lost a striker to suspension last night as Ched Evans was despatched for elbowing an opponent in the face. The 31 year-old is decent, but 16 fewer goals that Toney this season suggests he’s more easily replaced.

As always the first goal will be crucial at Highbury. Posh haven’t won a game after falling behind this season and they were poor last night right up until taking the lead when they instantly became very dangerous.

Someone will need to step up on the goalscoring front for the next two games and maybe it will be Jack Taylor whose credentials were on display against Southend with a superbly struck 18-yarder that put Posh 2-0 up and effectively killed the game.

Toney’s double ensured Posh scored four goals for the third Football League match in a row for just the second time in the club’s history. The first occasion was in 1960 and that all-conquering side went on to score three goals in the next two matches which would be a decent sequence to emulate.