The Sunderland game looks after itself so the Posh focus is firmly on Fleetwood

Posh boss Darren Ferguson insists his players must not get ahead of themselves as they approach a difficult Easter League One programme.
Posh manager Darren Ferguson.Posh manager Darren Ferguson.
Posh manager Darren Ferguson.

The Easter Monday automatic promotion showdown with Sunderland at the Weston Homes Stadium (3pm) is naturally attracting plenty of attention, but Ferguson is more concerned with the trip to mid-table Fleetwood tomorrow (Good Friday, 3pm).

“The Sunderland match will look after itself,” Ferguson stated. “The players won’t need any motivation for a big game that’s live on Sky.

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“It’s always a big game when you play Sunderland anyway. It’s just a shame there won’t be any fans present as there would have been a brilliant atmosphere.

Siriki Dembele might not get into the Posh starting line-up over the weekend.Siriki Dembele might not get into the Posh starting line-up over the weekend.
Siriki Dembele might not get into the Posh starting line-up over the weekend.

“But we have to take care of business at Fleetwood first. It’s always tough up there and we don’t have the best record in this fixture.

“The pitch won’t be good, not that a bad pitch seems to bother us at home, and if the wind blows it’s a really hard place to play.

“It’s a surprise they are not challenging for promotion as they have plenty of very good League One players, but they had been in decent form until the last match (a 2-0 defeat at home to struggling Swindon on March 20) and they now have a very experienced manager in Simon Grayson.

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“We know what we have to do to win promotion though and that’s keep winning at home and start winning more regularly away from home.

“The two Easter games are important as they take place in the space of four days, but they won’t define the season. The aim is to emerge in a good position.

“It’s important the players enjoy the promotion bid as much as I am.”

Posh midfielder Jack Taylor is expected to start at Fleetwood after recovering from a hamstring problem, but star forward Siriki Dembele is not so certain to play even though he’s expected to have overcome a back injury.

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If Posh stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation used in last Saturday’s rout of Accrington, Dembele would need to either replace talented teenager Harrison Burrows or forward Sammie Szmodics who scored twice in that 7-0 win.

Burrows was outstanding on the left wing against Accrington.