Posh boss Darren Ferguson: ‘Do you want to play in front of 30,000 at Derby or 2,500 at Rochdale next season?’

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson transported his players to the first game of next season as motivation for the rest of the current League One campaign
Siriki Dembele should be back in the Posh squad at Fleetwood.Siriki Dembele should be back in the Posh squad at Fleetwood.
Siriki Dembele should be back in the Posh squad at Fleetwood.

Posh are second, just a point behind leaders Hull City with a game in hand, ahead of crunch Easter games at Fleetwood (Good Friday) and at home to third-placed Sunderland (Easter Monday). Sunderland are two points behind Posh, but with a game in hand.

Ferguson has confirmed recent injury victims Jack Taylor and Siriki Dembele are available tomorrow. Only teenager Ronnie Edwards (thigh strain) is absent.

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Before the players left for the North West today (April 1) Ferguson said: “I told the players to look ahead to the first day of next season when crowds will hopefully be back and did they want to play in front of 30,000 at Derby or 2,500 at Rochdale?

“It really is that simple. The difference between those two scenarios is vast.

“This is a big moment for this club, We have got ourselves into a great position and now we have nine matches to go to see it through, and we have virtually a fully fit squad.

“This moment has been 20 months in the making. Last season ended in a frustrating way, but we can forget all about that by getting promoted this season and I have urged the players not to shy away from the challenge, but to embrace it.

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“I will use all my experience to keep calm and in control. I was cautioned at Blackpool recently for having a go at the referee and I realise that was not a good look and it didn’t help the players.

“To have selection problems at this stage of the season is very welcome. If we can get through this weekend unscathed then we can get another breather into the players. We only have two more Tuesday games to play.

“We will be facing well organised, well rested opposition tomorrow though. We will need a performance similar to the standard of the Accrington one (Posh won 7-0 last weekend) to get the result we want.

“We need to start producing away from home. It would be very dangerous just to rely on our home form.”