Why Peterborough United should be proud of a strong start, a ruthless manager for whom attack is the best form of defence, strength in depth, work still needed and no reason to fear the League One leaders

The first seven fixtures included games against two of the 2019-20 campaign play-off contenders, the 2020-21 title favourites and a club who would have finished midway in the Championship last season, but for an ill-timed points deduction.

Okay Wigan have lost most of that particular squad, but they still fielded a side packed with experience and potential last night (October 20) and yet they were clearly second best.

Even the opening day fixture at Accrington Stanley now looks tough given that side’s current position just outside the top six, but here Posh are heading into another hard one at leaders Hull City this Saturday (October 24) with five wins, 15 points and fourth place in the current League One standings.

By contrast Hull’s fixture list looks like it could have been hand-picked by manager Grant McCann. The only possible promotion contender the Tigers have faced so far, Fleetwood, thumped them 4-1 so Posh can travel north again this weekend full of confidence rather than trepidation.

Most ecouragingly Posh haven’t even found top gear yet, certainly as an attacking force.

Other things we learnt from the 1-0 win at Wigan...

1) Posh have built a squad with stiff competition for every single position in any possible formation. It’s true Posh wouldn’t want anything to happen to goalkeeper Christy Pym and any absence for Jonson Clarke-Harris would be difficult to overcome in the current playing system. but generally manager Darren Ferguson has all bases covered.

2) If any Posh player was starting to think he was a shoo in for a start Ferguson would have shaken them out of it last night by reacting to a difficult opening half an hour for left-back Dan Butler by substituting him and sending right-back Niall Mason on in his place. Mason played well enough to harbour hopes of a start at Hull, while the rest of the squad know Ferguson will act ruthlessly if standards drop.

3) With so many games coming in quick succession fatigue may become an issue, but that Posh strength in depth will again be an advantage. It would be a major surprise if last night’s starting XI didn’t kick-off at Hull, but home games next week against a Burton side that slipped to the bottom of the table last night, and goalshy Shrewsbury offer opportunity for change. Ryan Broom is knocking at the door and he could comfortably fill any of the three attacking positions behind Clarke-Harris.

4) Ferguson remains a bold manager. In the final 10 minutes last night, when others would have ordered their team to sit back preserving a 1-0 lead away from home, Posh right-back Nathan Thompson was spotted bombing on down the flank, while the other full-back, Mason, was seen in advanced midfield positions popping passes about. Ferguson encourages this freedom. For him attack really is the best form of defence and he trusts his players in possession. It led to a couple of late hairy moments in Wigan, but keeping the ball high up the pitch also frustrates desperate opponents.

5) Three clean sheets in a row is proof of the benefits of a settled defence. The back four will face speedier, nimbler forwards than Wigan fielded, but centre-backs Mark Beevers and Frankie Kent were outstanding last night. They were always in the right place to clear crosses or block shots, so much so that Pym had his quietest game for a while. Thompson was also excellent against a winger, Viv Solomon-Otabor, who has caused Posh problems in the past.

6) Before last night’s game Ferguson highlighted game management and attacking set-pieces as things to improve. He wouldn’t have enjoyed the final five minutes when Wigan twice broke away dangerously after poor Posh decisions in the attacking half, especially the inexplicable pumping of an injury-time free kick into the Wigan area which led to the home side hitting a post on the breakaway. The set-pieces were better with Joe Ward pinging in some accurate corners, usually towards Beevers. Beevers was a regular goalscorer for Bolton at this level, but then he was one of numerous big blokes in the side whereas now he is the most obvious physical threat in this Posh team alongside Clarke-Harris who rarely appears to be a target.

7) Given the natural pace and trickery of Siriki Dembele, Sammie Szmodics and Ward in support of Clarke-Harris I can see Posh winning big on the road this season. They will thrive on the service provided by Reece Brown and Jack Taylor, but the front four’s passing to each other could be crisper and more accurate.