The hunt for reasons to be cheerful about Peterborough United led to a look back to 12 months ago
Believe it or not Peterborough United were in an even worse position this time last season.
After 13 games of the 25-26 season Posh had 10 points from three wins a draw and nine defeats and were bottom of the table.
Posh also have 10 points from the first 13 League One games of the current campaign from two wins, four draws and seven defeats, but at least they have two teams below them!
Posh were five points from safety 12 months ago, whereas now they are just two points away from the team just above the drop zone, which happens to be Grant McCann’s Doncaster Rovers.
In fact of the bottom four on the second of November 12 months ago, only Port Vale went on to be relegated. Posh, Blackpool and Plymouth Argyle all survived.
Those that did eventually depart, Rotherham United, Northampton Town and Exeter City were 15th, 16th and 18th respectively.
Of course these are only small crumbs of comfort for Posh fans, especially given the wider context of three wins in the last 28 League One games, a staggering statistic which suggests Posh are in a death spiral, a terminal decline which makes a return to League Two for the first time in 20 years probable rather than just possible.
Darren Ferguson had just been sacked this time last year and Luke Williams came into immediately oversee a surprise 1-0 FA Cup first round win over Cardiff City at London Road.
The new man’s initial impact ended after two League One wins in a row, but from December 1 to February 10, Posh picked up 28 points from 14 matches which was just enough to mean a horrible slide thereafter didn’t end in disaster.
Posh were eighth when that excellent run of form ended which might have persuaded chairman Darragh MacAnthony to make his bold ‘top-10-by-February’ prediction.
One other point, Harry Leonard scored his first Posh goal in that FA Cup win over Cardiff City which took place on November 1. He went on to score 17 goals in all competitions, the other 16 in League One in just 30 appearances.
Leonard might just be the key to survival this time around. He has nine goals in all competitions this season, but only three have arrived in League One so far.