Posh must avoid the pitfalls their promotion rivals have suffered in recent days

Hull City, Doncaster Rovers, Charlton and Portsmouth are among the Posh promotion rivals to have suffered shock results in the last 10 days and Posh boss Darren Ferguson has warned his players not to become the victims of a big upset this weekend.

Posh have the best home record in League One, but they have dropped points against lowly sides Bristol Rovers and Burton at London Road and they’ve lost at home in cup ties to lower division teams Cheltenham and Chorley.

Posh also lost 2-1 at Wimbledon early in December which was the last win for the Wombles until they beat Wigan away from home almost two weeks ago.

“It doesn’t matter who we are playing, if we don’t turn up we get beaten and usually very comfortably,” Ferguson said.

“And we’re not the only ones. I don’t view those results at the weekend as shocks because every team is capable of beating every other team, especially this season.

“Every team in the division has had good and bad runs. Even leaders Lincoln have lost back-to-back matches, but all we are trying to do is deliver consistent performances and we have bounced back well since losing and playing poorly at Shrewsbury.

“But we have to maintain our aggression and our passing tempo in every game, and most importanty we want to continue our winning habit.

“Wimbledon have changed the managerial team and they changed their style of play from three at the back to a back four in the last game which they won.

“They will be confident and they will be nice and fresh. They will have prepared well for this game so we have to make sure we get our own game right.

“If we do that they will find us a real handful.

“We are not looking at the table. It’s all about collecting as many points as possible as quickly as possible and see where we end up.”

Star forward Siriki Dembele should start on Saturday after delivering a match-turning display from the bench in the 3-1 win at Gillingham on Tuesday.

Harrison Burrows could also be given an opportunity in place of Dan Butler if Posh stick with three centre-backs and two wingbacks.

Wimbledon have confirmed Mark Robinson as head coach in succession to Glyn Hodges who was sacked earlier this month,

Posh have won their last three League One games since losing at Shrewsbury.

Posh dropped to third last night after Hull’s crushing 5-0 win at Wigan. The Tigers are level on points with Posh, but Ferguson’s side have two games in hand.

Doncaster, who host Hull on Saturday, lost at home to Accrington who are now in the play-off places. Fifth-placed Doncaster remain four points behind Posh with a game in hand.