Peterborough United manager’s dilemma as star man Ivan Toney moves closer to a two-game ban

Peterborough United’s top scorer Ivan Toney must walk a disciplinary tightrope for six League One matches.

Tony collected his ninth caution of the League One campaign in the latter stages of Saturday’s (February 8) 4-0 home win over Oxford United.

Ten yellow cards before the end of the 37th game of the season leads to a two-game ban. Posh have currently played 31.

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It’s a dilemma for manager Darren Ferguson who is not afraid to publicise his team’s dependence on Toney.

“I have a squad of very good players,” Ferguson stated. “But the one player I cannot do without is Ivan.

“I will have to manage the situation now. Do I leave him out to protect him? I don’t want to do that and I don’t want him to lose his aggression as that’s a big part of his game.

“Ivan will have to be careful. I don’t want him to pick up a silly booking. I don’t think Saturday’s was. He was unlucky.”

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Toney was cautioned for a foul in added time right near the Oxford penalty area. To be fair to referee Andy Haines, whose performance was terrible, he had given Toney a final warning earlier in the second-half.

Toney is expected to start tomorrow’s (February 11) League One game with lowly Southend at the Weston Homes Stadium.