Peterborough United manager's tribute to Jonson Clarke-Harris ahead of clash with goal-shy Rotherham United
Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson is ignoring the poor goalscoring record of Rotherham United ahead of Saturday’s League One match between the teams at London Road (3pm).
The Millers have only scored nine goals in their 10 League One games so far despite the presence of big-money signing Sam Nombe and former Posh hero Jonson Clarke-Harris. Clarke-Harris, who has passed a fitness test on a sore calf, is the club’s top scorer with three goals, although two have been penalties.
Only Stevenage and bottom four sides Crawley, Shrewsbury and Cambridge have scored fewer goals than Rotherham. Posh have scored 16 goals in their 10 games, the sixth highest in the division.
"Rotherham are good at the top end of the pitch,” Ferguson insisted. “Steve Evans has signed a lot of new players, as he does, and sometimes it can take a while to come good. Steve’s sides have a way of playing which can be very hard to beat. They have experienced players all over the pitch and of course we know ‘Jonno’ very well.
“He was a fantastic signing for us. We brought him in and got him really fit and he had an incredible season when we went up from League One during Covid. He won the Golden Boot and then did it again two years later. We went in a different direction last season when we went with youth and pace, but he was still a massive influence in what was almost another very good season.
"Jonno accepted the way we were going, but he was still a big presence. He was messed about with a transfer to Bristol Rovers at the start of last season and then decided not to go to Charlton, but his attitude was spot-on in our dressing room and he contributed on the pitch as well. He was a big part of all the success we have had recently.
“Jonno decided it was time to move on in the summer and he joined Rotherham, but I’m sure he had other options as well. We wished him all the best and we still do.”
Clarke-Harris (30) scored 31 goals in the Covid promotion season and 26 League One goals in the 2022-23 season. He scored nine League One goals last season, but started just 16 games.