Peterborough United seek to make up ground lost by successive postponements

Posh boss Darren Ferguson with forward Ephron Mason-Clark. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has urged his players to forget the League One table and concentrate on winning the next game.

Successive postponements of scheduled fixtures against Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion meant Posh lost ground in the race for a League One play-off place.

Ferguson’s men start Saturday’s tough-looking home game against Portsmouth five points and two places adrift of the play-off positions.

But a win against Pompey would move Posh back up to seventh and within two points of sixth-placed Barnsley who are without a weekend fixture. Seventh-placed Wycombe Wanderers are also not in action.

Poompey arrive at the Weston Homes Stadium boosted by back-to-back 2-0 wins against Exeter City and Fleetwood Town under new manager John Mousinho, a left-field appointment who has inspired instant improvement.

Those wins lifted Pompey to within a point and two places of eighth-placed Posh.

"I’m not surprised Portsmouth have picked up,” Ferguson said. “They are the same as Charlton in that they have under-achieved given the players they have at the club.

"The new manager has done really well. They are two very good wins and with two clean sheets as well. He’s changed their shape and it’s worked.

"It’s a tough game for sure and it’s now a very important one as they are so close to us in the table.

"It’s also important we don't waste the momentum of winning our last game, even if it feels like a long time ago!

"It’s been frustrating, but it’s no use worrying about it. Games often get called off at this time of year.

"I don’t concern myself about other results as we can’t control them. We just have to win our games whenever they are played and see where it takes us.

"There are advantages in not playing. The little niggles we had have all cleared up for a start.

"We won’t concern ourselves about the table. The focus has to be solely on the next game and I am confident the players will put in a performance on Saturday.”

It’s likely Ferguson will name the same team that started the win at Port Vale on January 16 which means popular midfielder Jeando Fuchs will remain on the sidelines.