Peterborough United Golden Boot winner pushes Cobblers closer to the bottom of League One and why Ivan Toney still harbours hopes of a World Cup call-up

A former Peterborough United Golden Boot winner helped push Cobblers closer to the bottom of League One on Saturday.

Jack Marriott bagged his 11th goal of the season for Reading in a 2-0 win at Sixfields. The result dropped Cobblers to next-to-bottom of the table ahead of a tough game at Barnsley on Tuesday (February 3).

Ivan Toney celebrates a goal for Al earlier this month. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images).

placeholder image — Ivan Toney celebrates a goal for Al earlier this month. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images).

Former Posh and Cobblers striker Ivan Toney is tearing up the Saudi Pro League for Al-Ahli FC. The 29 year-old is the top scorer in the league with 18 goals in 17 matches. He has hit two hat-tricks in his last three games and scored 13 goals in his last eight outings.

Toney’s attracted attention from overseas, but he is expected to turn down the chance to join Italian giants Juventus to concentrate on breaking into the England World Cup squad.

Jack Marriott at Northampton Town on Saturday (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images).

Toney said: “I feel like I’m doing well right now and that continuing to score goals in Saudi will give me a stronger chance to get to what could be my only World Cup.” Toney was included in an England squad last year.

It’s not going quite so well for ex-Posh forward Ricky-Jade Jones who was substituted after an hour of St Pauli’s 2-1 Bundesliga defeat at Augsburg. St Pauli are next-to-bottom.

Ronnie Edwards started for the first time since rejoining QPR and lined up at right-back in direct opposition to ex-Posh teammate Ephron Mason-Clark of Coventry City. Mason-Clarke limped off with a foot injury in the first-half – it had nothing to with Edwards – as QPR came from behind to beat Coventry 2-1.

Back in League One Malik Mothersille came off the bench to help inspire Stockport County to a come-from-behind 2-1 win at home to Plymouth Argyle.

In League Two former Posh midfielder Ben Thompson bagged the first hat-trick of his career as leaders Bromley won the Kent derby 4-1 at Gillingham and Jorge Grant scored as Salford won 2-0 at Tranmere Rovers.

In the National League former Posh winger David Ajiboye claimed a goal and an assist as Carlisle beat Altrincham 3-1. On-loan Posh attacker Chris Conn-Clarke was not in Carlisle’s matchday squad.

Posh promotion winner Nathan Thompson is a free agent after his contract at MK Dons was cancelled by mutual consent last week.