Why Luke Williams is putting other League One managers under pressure, an upside down table and Gustav delivered the feelgood story of the day
There will be a few nervous League One managers right now.
The work of Luke Williams in just two weeks at Peterborough United and the instant impact of Michael Duff at Wycombe, Ian Evatt (Blackpool) and Jack Wilshere (Luton) has confirmed change can be good, or rather brilliant in the case of the first-named.
A penny would be a bargain price for Darren Ferguson’s thoughts this morning. A Posh team turned up at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday and delivered the razzle-dazzle that became a Fergie trademark at League One level. It was Fergie’s team, but whereas it laboured and blundered its way through most of the first 13 League One games of the the season, Williams has turned into a fast-paced, forward-passing, aggressive, attacking outfight in just a fortnight.
Yes, it is only one game, and the manager was keen to talk about ‘not getting ahead of ourselves’ after the 5-0 win over a Wimbledon side with far more muscle than quality, but it didn’t feel like a fluke or a one-off. It felt like we were watching a team set to go charging up the table playing a fearless brand of football. Time will tell, but Williams couldn’t have made a more impressive impact.
TALKING POINTS FROM POSH 5, WIMBLEDON 0…
1) The League One table really does appear to have been upside down. Get ready for the cream to rise to the top again, or at least the teams that don’t completely really on kick-and-rush, hoof ball and set-piece prowess to prosper. Posh might have caught Wimbledon at the right time as their staggering start to the season for a newly-promoted side had been interrupted by modest opponents in Burton Albion and Gateshead before they pitched up at London Road. The Dons played like 1970s Wimbledon for a spell in the first-half yesterday when they launched the ball, long, high and direct. I’ve watched some rubbish in League One this season even when Posh haven’t been involved. Bradford City, Lincoln City and Stevenage have all bored me to tears and yet they all remain in the top six.
2) This is threatening to be the most keenly contested League One for many years. Seven of those who started in the top eight yesterday lost. Bolton Wanderers were the only winners. It could take more points than normal to stay up and fewer points than normal to go up. Posh are still four points from safety and yet only 12 points from the play-offs. I wouldn’t get too giddy and back Posh to finish anywhere near the top six just yet, but any team capable of stringing a few wins together would climb quickly. All of a sudden Posh look like a side who will be dangerous when confident. Two home games against high-fliers Stockport – who lost their best player to a bad training injury on Friday – and Stevenage, a big over-achiever – are next up.
3) It seems harsh that Sky TV can move a fixture that immediately weakens one of the sides taking part. It's happened to Posh. They will be without Matt Garbett who will be in Ecuador with New Zealand 24 hours before Posh host Stockport in a game moved forward 48 hours to accommodate Sky. I was surprised Garbett started yesterday, and that he played in a wider role than the man he replaced, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, had fulfilled the week before. It’s a luxury though to be able to replace one gifted player with another. They had a hand in three goals between them yesterday.
4) On this page last week I said if Williams could get Gustav Lindgren scoring, after he’d persuaded Harry Leonard to start finding the net, the new boss would claim ‘The Messiah’ mantle from Noel Cantwell. Lindgren came on as late substitute and scored twice yesterday which was the feelgood story of the day. The Swedish striker had been written off by many us, but only those who find it impossible to change opinions on players – and there are many like that – would begrudge the 24 year-old his post-match acclaim. Williams has quickly done many impressive things, but unlocking the goal-scoring prowess of a pair of strikers is right up there. Under Williams, in just two matches, Posh have scored more than two goals in a League One game for the first time, achieved back-to-back clean sheets in all competitions for the first time and won a League One game by more than one goal for the first time. It’s easy this management lark.
5) Having watched Harley Mills on the last two Saturdays I’d like to someone to explain why a) Jacob Mendy was signed and b) why he was played ahead of Mills?