The football season is finally back, and the Posh travel to Nigel Pearson`s Leicester City, as they look to kick start their Championship season with a win.
Leicester City -Vs- Peterborough United
Venue: London Road
Date: 18th August, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm
The Posh came away with a point from this fixture last season, they`ll be looking to go one better this time around.
Both sides come into this game on the back of comfortable 4-0 Capital One Cup First Round matches, and with confidence levels high in both camps, it is sure to be an enthralling encounter. Both sides will be looking to press on and improve on their final positions last season: Posh will be looking to move up into mid table, while Leicester again look to get promoted, having been unsuccessful in recent seasons.
TEAM NEWS
Peterborough United
Posh are still without injured full back Tommy Rowe, who still faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines. However, strikers, Emile Sinclair and Tyrone Barnett are fit and back in contention. But they both may have to wait for their first start of the season, as Lee Tomlin and Paul Taylor are likely to keep their places, after impressing against Southend in midweek.
Posh have a few choices to fill the left and right back positions, but it is expected that Ferguson will stick with the same back four that earned a clean sheet on Tuesday night. This would see young left Kgosi Nthle keep his place in the side.
Youngster Joe Newell, who scored the goal of the game Tuesday`s 4-0 win, is also expected to keep his place. Winger, Daniel Kearns, is expected to be fit enough for the game, and he could push Lee Frecklington for the place on the right hand side of the diamond. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is still injured, and is out of contention for a few more weeks.
Grant McCann suffered an injury in a behind closed doors match against West Brom in the week, and is a slight doubt. But McCann may be fit enough to take his place on the bench, as he continues to be kept out of the team by new signing Michael Bostwick, who put in a good performance against Southend.
It is expected to be the same starting line-up as the game in midweek, but the names on the bench could change, with Barnett, Sinclair and Kearns all eager to return to action.
Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up could be:
Olejnik
Alcock, Zakuani, Brisley, Nthle
Bostwick
Frecklington Newell
Boyd
Taylor, Tomlin
Leicester City
Leicester new boy, and former Posh target, Jamie Vardy, could start up front for the Foxes, after his goal and impressive performance in their midweek 4-0 win over Torquay United. Lloyd Dyer could also start after his display in the League Cup fixture.
Former Manchester United midfielder, Matty James, is expected to start after he also scored a goal on his debut against Torquay.
STATS & FACTS
Posh took 4 points of Leicester last season, and will be looking to go all the way and make it 6 this season. Leicester fans have described Posh as a bogey team, as they have struggled to beat us in recent times.
Both sides will be looking to start the new season with a win.
HOTSHOTS
Peterborough United
1 – Tomlin
1 – Boyd
1 – Newell
1 – Taylor
Birmingham City
1 – Dyer
1 – James
1 – Vardy
1 – Marshall
PREDICTION
We were fantastic against Southend in midweek, and the camp is full of confidence. If we can bring that confidence into Saturday`s game, we could pull of a shock, and take our first three points of the season.
This should be a very tight game with not a lot between the teams.
Vital Posh predicts a tight game ending in a battling 2 – 1 win.
REFEREE
Craig PAWSON takes charge of this clash.
The last time Moss officiated a Posh match was at home to Yeovil in April 2011, which ended in a 2-2 draw. However, Mr Pawson gave the away side a penalty in that game, which was converted.
He will be assisted by Ian Rathbone and Richard Kendall.
The fourth official is Mark Jones.
UP THE POSH
Follow me on Twitter: @TommLeaa
Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com
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