Robbie Savage accepts Cambridge United derby game could be a pivotal moment in Peterborough United's season

Peterborough United boss Robbie Savage accepts the upcoming League One derby against Cambridge United could be a pivotal moment in his club’s season.

Posh haven’t won any of their last six competitive matches since the memorable 3-1 League One win at Leicester City which was the first match in the care of Savage.

Kwame Poku celebrates his Posh hat-trick after a 6-1 win over Cambridge United on their last visit to London Road in November, 2024. Photo David Lowndes.

placeholder image — Kwame Poku celebrates his Posh hat-trick after a 6-1 win over Cambridge United on their last visit to London Road in November, 2024. Photo David Lowndes.

Murmurings of discontent grew louder at the weekend when Posh were humbled 5-0 at home by Reading in a first round FA Cup tie.

Posh have two more games before Cambridge arrive at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday, November 28, a largely meaningless EFL Trophy tie at Luton Town on Tuesday, November 17 and a League One game at promotion fancies Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, November 21 when the home side will be hot favourites to win.

But a continuation of the recent domination of Cambridge at London Road could be massive for Posh confidence and momentum.

"We have to stay positive,” Savage told the Posh Plus service. “We have to prove that the Reading game was a one-off. I believe it was, so do my staff, Darragh MacAnthony and Barry Fry. That wasn’t the team that could have won most our recent games. I asked them to show everyone watching on TV how good they are, but instead we didn’t show anything at all.

“It was very frustrating and it hurt. The players are trying and they are working hard and I believe we could have won all the recent games before Reading, bar the one at Huddersfield.

"The Reading performance really stung. It stung me as it reflected badly on me as a manager, but we have what we’ve got until January and we now have to find the energy we showed against Leicester and Burton for our next games.

"We have played some top sides lately and we have another one coming up at Plymouth, but I believe we can win there, and why can’t we?

"Then it’s the derby and if we can’t get up for that, if we are not at it and we don’t win our duels, we don’t tackle aggressively and we don’t take our chances we are going to have a huge problem.

"I know how much it means to fans who have been so good to me since I got here. I’ve played in some big derbies. I know how important they are.”