Peterborough United are reaping the rewards for banning complacency

Posh travel to League One title favourites Sunderland on Tuesday (October 2) when over 30,000 fans are expected to pack into the Stadium of Light.

Posh will visit the North East as League One leaders if they beat Blackpool at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday (3pm). They returned to the top with a 4-2 win at Gillingham last weekend.

“That’s the biggest game of them all next week,” Posh boss Steve Evans stated. “And we want to go up there on top of League One. That’s the only time I will mention Sunderland until Saturday night though as we must not take our eye off the ball against Blackpool or we will lose.

Mark O'Hara (right) is pushing hard for a recall to the Posh starting line-up.

“Blackpool have good players and are well organised. They haven’t lost in a while so it’s a big test for us, but we are desperate to put on a show for our own fans.

“We’ve been exceptional in away games, but promotions are usually built on home form and ours needs improving. Scoring first will be important against a team who don’t let many goals in - none at all away from home - so we will be aiming for a fast start.

“Blackpool signed some good players in the summer when Gary Bowyer was boss. I have tried to sign a couple of them myself in the past. And new manager Terry McPhillips has done a great job with them. They are big, strong and physical, but they can also play. They were magnificent in midweek when they knocked a strong QPR side out of the Caraboa Cup.

“We couldn’t get near QPR when we played them, but Blackpool deserved their win.”

Darren Lyon (centre) has impressed Posh manager Steve Evans.

Posh can be expected to field the same side that won the thriller at Gillingham, but Evans insists he is considering changes.

Midfielder George Cooper and left-back Tyler Denton are confirmed absentees.

“There was too much complacency in the squad last season,” Evans added. “There were players who knew they could safely book tickets for their family memnbers because they would always be playing.

“That’s not the case now. There is no resting on laurels. Form in reserve games are important to me as are substitute performances and the likes of Callum Cooke, Mark O’Hara and Josh Yorwerth are pushing hard for a start.

“Right-back Darren Lyon has also been impressive in the reserves and he is putting pressure on Jason Naismith.”