PETERBOROUGH UNITED
‘I felt we did okay in the game at Upton Park earlier in the season and we will be looking to put in a good performance on Saturday. I thought we were excellent in the first half at Turf Moor last weekend and I was very happy with the strikers, they linked up well,’ Ferguson said.
“We lacked a bit of belief when we played them at their place and that won`t be the case tomorrow,” Ferguson continued.
“We still only lost that day to a soft penalty and they were hanging on a bit at the end so we know we can trouble them.
“Obviously they are a big, strong side who have made some good signings in January. They are excellent at set-pieces and we will need a strong referee because they have won more penalties than any other side in the Championship.
“But we will try and impose our game on them. If we pass the ball well and keep the ball well we can cause them problems.
“It`s a game every one of my players is looking forward to and it`s definitely a game we can win. Ipswich beat them 5-1 recently which shows what can happen in this league,”
Ferguson added: “I haven`t picked my team yet, but I am excited by having Matthew [Briggs] in the squad. I rate him very highly and I`ve been trying to sign him for a year.
“He`s a Premier League player really so I expect he will go well for us. He`s a natural left-footer so he will give us balance when we are attacking.”
Fans backing is crucial insists skipper Grant McCann. The backing of the fans played a huge part in Posh winning the League One Play-Off semi-final against MK Dons last season. “It was a brilliant atmosphere when Mk Dons played here that night,” McCann said. “It`s the best I`ve ever experienced at the club.
“London Road was rocking that night and there`s no doubt the fans helped us get through.
“And there will be even more in the ground tomorrow so hopefully there will be even more noise. It`s certainly a massive game and the players are all looking forward to it.
“It`s obviously a big game for me having started out at West Ham. I have loads of family and friends coming over from Northern Ireland for the match so I hope it`s on.
“I also hope we win and that I score. That would be a dream come true.”
WEST HAM UNITED
Hammers boss Sam Alardyce is hoping his sides kicks on from their win last weekend as he said to the West Ham website: ‘We’re going to have enough pressure trying to win the Southampton game without putting extra pressure on ourselves to bounce back from Peterborough.
‘We exceeded all expectations from me last Saturday. Firstly, because we’d just been beaten by Ipswich and secondly because we went down to ten men after nine minutes.
‘To produce a performance of such quality and high endeavour and high belief was a fantastic effort by all the players who took part. In some cases it didn’t get the praise it deserved as anyone who wins with ten men should be delighted.
‘Just look at what Millwall did to Southampton on Tuesday when they won 3-2. We managed to beat them with just ten men for 80 minutes so that just shows the size of the job we completed.’
Allardyce is frustrated at criticism aimed in his direction over the way his team play: “Any criticism of the way we play doesn`t make any sense to me. All this team did before was lose.” Allardyce said.
“I`ve been a manager for 18 years and not for the life of me would I expect a football fan to accept playing well and losing, rather than playing well and winning. If you`re unable to play well then just win.
“We have entertained really well at home this year, but when we have lost people have said we were poor. In fact I don`t remember many games when we haven`t put on a good show.
“We`ve struggled in certain games, but every team has those. In most games we have created more chances than the opposition, but it`s a fact that some teams sit so far back they let you entertain.
“We could probably do with being a bit more clinical, but we have scored four against Forest, Blackpool and Watford so we have shown we can do it.”
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @mwl1967
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