Peterborough United manager thrilled by Clarke-Harris, his young players, the fans and his substitutes, but unhappy with a suspension and the state of the London Road playing surface

Posh moved up a place to fourth after picking up just a second win in five League One matches. Top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick in the first 21 minutes, but the performances of Flynn Clarke (17), Harrison Burrows (18) and Idris Kanu (21) also caught Ferguson’s eye.

All three started a League One game for the first time this season (it was Clarke’s full Football League debut) and all claimed a goal assist as Posh raced into a 4-1 interval lead.

“The win and the performance against West Ham United on Tuesday gave me the confidence to play the younger players from the start today,” Ferguson enthused. “And they gave us freshness, energy, intensity and some excellent quality.

“Idris pressed well for the first goal, Harrison has delivered a stunning cross for the second goal and Flynn’s delivery got us a goal from a corner.

“In a way it’s easier for the younger players as they have the freedom to go out and play as the fans tend not to blame them if anything goes wrong, but you still have to go out and perform and they did.

“We played at a much better pace and with much greater intensity today and when we do that we are a very hard team to play against.

“It was an outstanding first-half display from the entire team to be fair. We moved the ball better and we put crosses into the penalty area and I’ve always said if we create chances for Jonson he will score goals. That’s why we signed him.

“We looked a much different team. We had 21 shots in 90 minutes which is impressive.

“We were a bit sloppy at the start of the second half, but we managed the game pretty well against a team who are very dangerous. They don’t care what the score is, they just keep playing so the concentration has to be good. Mo Eisa and Sammie Szmodics coming on got us going again.

“We tweaked it a bit at the back with Nathan Thompson playing in the middle of a three and Mark Beevers on the left. Nathan just improves the tempo of the passing from the back.

“I was pleased we could give the fans something to cheer about. They gave us a real lift after we had got them going by starting so well, which is just how it should be.

“It’s important now we try and do the same again at MK Dons on Tuesday.”

Thompson will miss the trip to stadium;mk (December 15) as he will serve a one-game suspension after picking up a fifth caution of the season today.

That and two other things annoyed Ferguson. He wasn’t happy with the goal Posh conceded or with the state of the London Road playing surface.

Clarke-Harris went over on his ankle after falling awkwardly and left the pitch immediately, but is thought to be okay.”

Posh are now just three points off the top after home defeats for top two Hull and Lincoln City.