Peterborough United’s season has been rescued by a defeat at Wimbledon, some top signings and the return to fitness of key players, a free-scoring front three have been replaced by better, while the fans and the FA Cup have parts to play in the promotion bid

Some of us were daft enough to write the obituary after last Saturday’s (January 18) defeat at AFC Wimbledon, but the last half-an-hour of that game has become pretty significant.

Posh changed to wing-backs as soon as they fell behind at Kingsmeadow and created so many scoring chances manager Darren Ferguson has stuck with a 3-4-1-2 formation in back-to-back home games against automatic promotion contenders Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United.

The transformation has been stark. From struggling to keep possession and a near total-reliance on Ivan Toney for a goal threat, Posh suddenly look the part again. Successive wins - both thoroughly deserved - have shot Posh up the table. A team that was jeered off by some fans after drawing 0-0 at home to Gillingham two weeks ago were afforded a standing ovation after following a 4-0 midweek win over Wycombe with a terrific 2-1 win over a Rotherham side who had won their five previous League One games, including a 4-0 thrashing of Posh.

A week is clearly a long time in football, but with three new faces, all of whom look fine players, and the return to action of Nathan Thompson, Josh Knight and Siriki Dembele there appear to be reasons for optimism at London Road again, but they must keep going.

Most immediately they must win their first away League One game since October 19 at struggling Accrington on Tuesday (January 28) because much tougher games against Ipswich and Oxford United follow.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER...

1) Ivan Toney is way out on his own as the best striker in League One. Never mind the 20 goals before the end of January, look at his all-round contribution, the aerial power, the touch, the technique, the ability to bring others into play. I watched a lot of the Sunderland v Doncaster 0-0 bore draw on Friday and the difference between Toney and the strikers at those promotion contenders is huge. Posh must make Toney’s presence count. He is a massive asset and he’s not going to be here for long, although hopefully beyond next Friday’s (January 31) transfer deadline.

2) Siriki Dembele is a far better foil for Toney than Mo Eisa. Dembele’s superior speed makes it easier for him to get alongside Toney. The same is true of Sammie Szmodics who is making us all forget about Marcus Maddison very quickly thanks to his far more impressive work ethic and unselfishness. This front three could end up better than the three that carried the team goal-scoring wise for the first four months of the campaign.

3) I’m not a fan of loan signings, but there is no doubting that Posh have three crackers in Josh Knight, Reece Brown and Szmodics. All of a sudden Posh have midfielders with mobility, pace, athleticism and a goal threat, all of them playing in a system that suits them. This is another huge positive.

4) The pitiful Posh attendance against Wycombe increased by almost 4,000 for the visit of Rotherham. Obviously a second-minute goal helped, but the atmosphere at the game was the best since Sunderland were at London Road in August and the performance was probably the best all-round since that match. The two might be connected. Keep it up Posh fans.

5) Nathan Thompson’s enduring fitness might be a key to the chances of Posh success. Niall Mason has had a decent season, but Thompson’s knowhow is going to be invaluable in the run-in. He’s strong and he reads the game well enough to cover any lack of pace. Posh stood up to a big physical test yesterday with a special mention to left wing-back Dan Butler who not only played a stunning pass to create a goal, but kept dashing winger Chiedozie Ogbene quiet. Ogbene is the main supplier for the giants in the Rotherham attack.

6) Posh bowed out of the FA Cup tamely as usual this season, but that might actually prove to be a Godsend. Promotion rivals Coventry, Oxford and Portsmouth are still in the competition which means extra games and extra pressure on squads that are not that deep. Posh must take advantage by piling up as many points as possible to make sure games in hand become must-win pressure games for their rivals. Pleasingly Oxford now face Newcastle in an FA Cup replay just a few days before visiting London Road on February 8. Extra-time would be handy.