After the disappointment of losing, at home, to the bottom club Plymouth Argyle midweek, Peterborough will be looking to pick up some valuable points this weekend, points that will, hopefully, lift them out the relegation zone they currently occupy. However, the opposition this weekend, Nottingham Forest, will provide a stern test.
Vital Quotes:
After all the bluster of pre-season where talk was of gate-crashing the play-offs, Posh find themselves trying to halt a run of form where back to back defeats have seen us drop into the bottom three.
At times like these, we all need to pull together to get out of this bad situation, it`s no good having dissention in the ranks an don the eve of the fixture Darren Ferguson has emphasised that point, remarking,
‘We’ve got to stick together and that means the fans as well.”
‘Obviously they’re going to be critical of certain things – myself included – which isn’t a problem, but we need a good atmosphere on Saturday.’
Indeed we do, I`d imagine the away enclosure will be full to the brim with some very noisy and partisan Forest fans!
Let`s get behind the team big style this Saturday!
Posh Team News:
Much was made of the fact that Darren Ferguson made changes to his defence for the Plymouth fixture. Gabriel Zakuani wasn`t selected and whilst many expected Krystian Pearce to step in Darren went for the experience of Charlie Lee explaining that he wanted t play two ball playing centre-backs. Also missing was Tom Williams who made way for Jamie Day. After being dropped / rested, Zakuani has gone to great lengths to deny a rift exists between him and the manager. Therefore, it`ll be interesting to see who fills the back four places this Saturday.
One definite starter though will be Danny Rose, our loan acquisition from Tottenham Hotspur. Registered jus tin time to play against Plymouth, he showed some neat touches and looks as if he can more than hold his own in this division. Barring any last minute hiccups we suspect Posh could line up as follows,
Lewis, Martin, Morgan, Zakuani, Williams, Frecklington, Diagouraga, Rose, Boyd, Mclean and Mackail-Smith
Player to watch: Diagouraga
If pressed I`d suggest he`s been our best pre-season signing and his performances have been one of the few positive factors in a disappointing start to the season.
Forest Team News:
Nottingham Forest enter the fixture eon the back of a 2-0 home win over Scunthorpe and their manager, Billy Davies, will be hoping his side can string a run of victories together.
However, he will still be without the injured duo of Julian Bennett and James Perch but is expected to welcome back Kelvin Wilson from injury.
Player to watch: Robert Earnshaw
A much travelled striker who, on his day, has a lethal finish. Pacy and sharp he could be our nemesis!
Match Facts & Stats
Clashes between Posh and Forest are rarities. In fact, in league football, our paths have only crossed in one season, 1993/1994 when Forest did a league double over us.
But we do have a win over Forest to our name having beaten them in the FA Cup in 1976 and the Johnstone Paint Trophy in 2007.
About time we registered that first league win over them isn`t it?
Match Prediction:
Our form is so up and down in recent weeks that it`s becoming impossible to predict the outcome of our games, games we should win we`re losing and games in which you think we might struggle we more than hold our own. However, in our current perilous position we should be looking to get a result against Forest even if it is a draw, I`m being a little cautious here and going for 1-1!
Next Fixtures:
Our next Championship match is against Bristol City, at Ashton Gate, on Saturday October 17th!
