Portsmouth will be stronger and better against Peterborough United than they were against Arsenal

Christian Burgess after scoring a goal for Posh. | Joe Dent/JMP

Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson admits he didn’t learn a lot from Portsmouth’s FA Cup defeat at home to Arsenal on Monday night (March 2).

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett made it obvious where his priorities this season lie by leaving key first-teamers Ronan Curtis, Tom Naylor Sean Raggett and John Marquis out of his starting line-up against the Gunners.

All four look set to start against Posh at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday (March 7) as might highly-rated young centre-back Jack Whatmaugh who has returned from injury just in time to replace Christian Burgess.

Burgess, a former Posh player, has been a star for Pompey this season, but collected a 10th caution of the League One campaign in last Friday’s 3-1 win over Rochdale so must now serve a two-game ban.

John Marquis in action for Portsmouth against Posh in December. | Joe Dent/JMP

First-choice goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray was also rested on Monday.

Jackett said: “I did feel we could cater for both Arsenal and Peterborough by making good use of the squad.

‘When we played Exeter in a midweek game recently we played our full team and that impacted on how we played in defeat at Fleetwood the following Saturday.”

Ferguson added: “I saw the game, but it told me very little. Arsenal won very comfortably in the end, but we will see a different Portsmouth team.

“Kenny probably won’t change much from his normal team as they’ve been going so well, but he needs a replacement for Burgess and who he plays up front is another decision for him. It could be Marquis or Ellis Harrison.”