What does the opening month of the season hold in store for Peterborough United?
What does the opening month of the season hold in store for Peterborough United?
It`s the start of a brand new season, full of optimism and for Posh, an expectation that promotion will be result come May 2016.
That is a long time off and anything could happen during that time with many ups and downs expected.
For the first month of the season, Posh face five League matches and one Capital One Cup match. Three of the five League matches are at the ABAX Stadium.
The matches this month are against Rochdale (a), Crawley Town (h – Cup), Colchester United (h), Sheffield United (h), Burton Albion (a) and Gillingham (h).
Last season, the five League matches Posh faced in August saw them pick up four wins and a defeat (at home to Sheffield United!). They also lost the Capital One Cup match at Portsmouth going down one-nil thanks to a Miles Storey 12th minute goal. Can Posh match or even better the start they had last season?
Rochdale (a)
Posh travel up to Rochdale just as they did on the opening day of last season. A goal on the hour mark by Kyle Vassell saw Posh take all three points. Vassell is expected to find himself on the substitutes bench this time around.
Dale finished one place above Posh in the League last season but they were level on points!
Will either side have improved enough to take the spoils or could we be looking at a stalemate in the opening game of the season?
Click here to make your prediction: Rochdale v Posh. A 2-0 Posh win is the current front runner.
Crawley Town (h – Cup)
Relegated Crawley Town were the final visitors to the ABAX Stadium last season. They went down 4-3 in a topsy-turvy game which saw the visitors take the lead then go behind; before taking the lead again only for two late goals to swing the match in Posh`s favour!
Posh bowed out of the competition at the first hurdle last season with a pathetic display resulting in a one-nil defeat at League Two side Portsmouth.
Crawley made it to the second round last season. They beat Ipswich Town one-nil in the first round before going down 3-1 at Norwich City in the second round.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v Crawley Town.
Colchester United (h)
The U`s escaped relegation last season thanks for a final day victory over Preston North End. That result saw them jump out of the relegation places, finishing the season in 19th place. The 81st minute winner also meant Preston dropped out of the automatic promotion places and into the play-offs. MK Dons replaced them in 2nd place but Preston triumphed at Wembley in the play-offs.
They`ve signed seven new players ahead of the season including former Posh loanee Matthew Briggs.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v U`s.
Sheffield United (h)
What is now becoming a permanent Tuesday night fixture, Posh host the Blades in the first midweek League fixture of the season.
Posh`s unbeaten League start to last season came undone despite dominating possession in the first half. Both sides have since parted ways with their managers and both teams have the same ambition for the season – promotion.
The Blades are one of the favourites to win promotion with odds of 5/1.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v The Blades.
Burton Albion (a)
The Brewers gained promotion as champions of League Two. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has done an impressive job since taking over the managerial seat but could finds think tough going this season.
Their top scorer last season had just 9 goals which means the goals were shared around the team but you need someone who can score regularly if you are going to survive in League One. Do the Brewers have that person or could they be in for a long hard season?
The clash will be the first ever League meeting between the Brewers and Posh. The sides have only ever met in competitive action in the FA Cup in 2005. After a goalless draw at London Road, the Brewers won the replay one-nil thanks to a Shaun Harrad goal in the 73rd minute.
Click here to make your prediction: Brewers v Posh.
Gillingham (h)
The Gills finished comfortably in mid-table last season and will want to improve on 12th place this season in what will be manager Justin Edinburgh`s first full season in charge.
They did the double over Posh last season winning 2-1 in both matches. Cody McDonald scored both the goals at the Priestfield Stadium with Jon Taylor scoring just before half-time.
If Posh have any hopes of promotion this season, the Gills are the sort of team they need to be beating.
Click here to make your prediction: Posh v Gills.
Monthly hopes…
It`s the start of a new season and one which Posh and new permanent manager Dave Robertson will want a flying start to.
Posh have had mixed results throughout pre-season but the loses sustained in pre-season was when a mixture of youth, transfer listed and fringe players made up the bulk of the side.
Good performances against the likes of West Ham, Ipswich and Spurs lifted the expectation of the fans but the final home pre-season match very much resembled a team playing “Darren Ferguson” style tactics. If Posh continue like that final game, then we could be in for a long hard season but if they can perform like they did against the teams from the Championship and Premier League on a consistent basis then we can expect a very promising and exciting season.
The first game is always very cagey and we won`t really have an idea how we`ll do until at least the end of the month. For now, it`s time to start enjoying the football season again.
What do you think? Let us know in your views in the comments box below.
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