What does the month of April hold in store for Peterborough United?
What does the month of April hold in store for Peterborough United?
We`re now entering the last full month of the season and there is still everything to play for as Posh look to secure the final play-off position in League One.
Posh have eight matches remaining this season with seven of them this month. Four of the seven April matches are at home.
The matches this month are against Colchester United (h), Wolves (a), Gillingham (h), Coventry City (h), Bradford City (a), Carlisle United (h) and the final away match of the month is at Shrewsbury Town.
March was a massive disappointment for Posh although they did finish it off in style by winning the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy at Wembley Stadium but they will need to pick up points on a regular basis if they are to remain in sixth place.
Colchester United (h)
Posh host Colchester United on Wednesday evening as the two teams play each other for the third time this season.
Posh comfortably won the first of those two matches 5-1 in the second round of the Capital One Cup but suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the League at the back end of October.
The U`s finished in 20th place last season and are not far off that position this time around but Posh should have enough in their locker to earn the win.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v The U`s.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
Wolves are finally edging away from Brentford and Leyton Orient at the top of League One and are clear favourites to win the title.
They have been formidable at home having won 14 out of their 20 home League matches. Only two teams have gone away from Molineux with all three points – Walsall beat Wolves 1-0 in mid-September while MK Dons won 2-0 in mid-December.
Posh enjoyed their visit to Molineux last season when they came away with a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Lee Tomlin, Tommy Rowe and Dwight Gayle. Posh also won the corresponding fixture in November when Michael Bostwick scored the only goal of the game 11 minutes from time.
Posh have to be at their very best to get anything out of this game.
Click here to make your prediction: Wolves v Posh.
Gillingham (h)
Last season`s League Two champions have made a solid, if unspectacular return to League One and sit comfortably in mid-table.
It will be nice to welcome back former Posh players Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale but that is as far as the welcome should go as Posh need to ensure they make London Road a fortress in the final weeks of the season.
The Gills have, like Posh, been unpredictable this season as recent weeks have seen them beat the likes of MK Dons and Crawley Town but then lose to teams like Crewe Alexandra.
Posh will have to be wary of their visitors to ensure they pick up three points.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v Gills.
Coventry City (h)
The Sky Blues started the season with a 10 point deduction but had a barn-storming first half of the season which saw them sit in 10th place and just 6 points off the play-offs after the New Year`s Day matches!
Things haven`t been so sweet since then after top scorer Leon Clarke forced a move to Wolves and results started to wane. Callum Wilson has stepped up to the plate and is the current top scorer in League One but results haven`t matched his goals coring feats.
If Posh can keep Wilson quiet then they should be able to get one over their midlands rivals especially after the Boxing Day clash ended in controversy after Shaun Brisley headed a corner over the line in the dying minutes only for the linesman and referee wash it out as they weren`t looking! That would`ve tied the scores at 2-2 but as Posh were complaining about the decision, Coventry raced up the other end to score past Bobby Olejnik.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v Sky Blues.
Bradford City (a)
Like Gillingham, the Bantams were promoted last season although it was via the play-offs after finishing 7th in League Two. They also have 48 points for the season, the same as Gillingham, and are safe for another year as they are too far off the play-offs and should be safe from relegation barring a dramatic turn of events.
The Bantams started the season very well but have since lost the inspirational forward Nahki Wells which have seen results drop off.
Posh should be able to come away with all three points unless their former star forward Aaron McLean finds his form for his new team. He has scored two goals for the Yorkshire side since signing from Hull City.
Click here to make your prediction: Bantams v Posh.
Carlisle United (h)
The Cumbrians are in relegation trouble and Posh will want to heap the pressure on them as they seek to gain revenge for the 2-1 defeat they suffered in the last game of last year at Brunton Park.
Posh were 1-0 ahead thanks to Lee Tomlin but the woeful loanee Hogan Ephraim got sent off before two goals in two minutes by David Amoo swung the tie in Carlisle`s favour.
Only Crawley and Shrewsbury have scored fewer goals than Carlisle so as long as the Posh defence can concentrate for the whole 90 minutes, then Posh should be confident of getting all three points.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v The Cumbrians.
Shrewsbury Town (a)
The final tie of April and also the final away League game for Posh is at another relegation threatened side.
Shrewsbury are second from bottom and are the lowest scorers in the division. They have achieved some good results recently though especially when shocking everyone as they managed a goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers!
They`ve only conceded 50 goals which is two fewer than Posh so Posh will need to be clinical with any chances that come along.
Click here to make your prediction: Shrews v Posh.
Monthly hopes…
After a disappointing March, Posh could and should pick up a fair few points in April as they look to cement their place in the play-offs.
They will be buoyed by the Wembley victory on Sunday which could be the catalyst to claiming a place in the play-offs.
Posh face four home matches and three away matches in April and they could win at least six of them!
By the time Posh play their next match, they could be out of the play-off places but they would have 3 games in hand. At this stage of the season, points is often more important than games in hand but with the games Posh have remaining, Posh should be able to move back into the play-offs when they catch up their games.
With 21 points to play for this month, Posh should be aiming for a minimum of 15 points which would go a long way to securing 6th place.
What do you think? Let us know in your views in the comments box below.
Follow @VitalPosh on Twitter.
UP THE POSH
Follow Vital Peterborough on: and
Join Vital Peterborough United!
With news and views, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
Vital Posh is 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital Posh today?
It’s easy to REGISTER HERE. Simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Posh at peterborough@vitalfootball.co.uk or
via @VitalPosh.
