Third Round Replay!

After suffering two postponements in the space of a week the sudden rise in temperature, and movement away from arctic like conditions, should see the resumption of football with a FA Cup 3rd round replay against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday evening. For the winners, a tie with either Queens Park Rangers or Burnley beckons, let`s hope it`s us.

Vital Quotes:

Ahead of the clash the West Bromwich manager, Tony Mowbary has suggested that the large crowd expected at London Road will benefit his team when he remarks,

‘The replay holds no fears for us but we are going to have to play well to get through the tie, as we managed to do twice last season at London Road.

‘The intensity of the crowd will mean you have to be at your absolute best and I am sure we will be on the night. If you look over the third round weekend generally it was the usual scenario for the cup with Premier League sides finding life difficult against lower league opposition.

‘The problem for Premier League clubs is that the cup games are not as high profile as the league games, especially in the earlier rounds. The Hawthorns reflected that a little bit.

‘They came with 4,000 supporters in a party atmosphere. It was a big day out for them and the players. Our players are used to a full stadium and a high-intensity, high-octane game and atmosphere.

‘The replay will be a big, intense game with their crowd getting behind their team. They will still be the underdogs and they will be determined to take a Premier League scalp.

‘Our players will have to be up for the big occasion, which we have been week in, week out, so it should hold no fears for us going there.’

Let`s hope it`s an entertaining affair then, with Posh winning!

Posh Team News:

Darren Ferguson will be without the cup-tied Andrew Crofts and a decision will have to be made about whether to risk left back, Tom Williams, with a crucial league game coming up this weekend.

Player to watch: Craig Mackail-Smith

One more goal will see Craig equal his tally for last season. Could there possibly be a better way of equaling that feat than by scoring the winner on Tuesday night?

WBA Team News:

West Brom will be without James Morrison after the player picked up an injury in the local derby with Aston Villa. Zuiverloon is also a doubt after missing the last two games but Teixeira could make a comeback for the Baggies!

Player to watch: Jay Simpson

Posh were thwarted by West Brom when it came to signing this promising Arsenal youngster, on loan, and his performance in the defeat to Aston Villa, at the weekend, showed what we`re missing. The lad has incredibly quick feet and we`ll need to keep on top of him if he`s not to be our undoing.

Match Facts & Stats

Posh and West Bromwich Albion have this almost magnetic attraction in domestic cup football. Posh lost out twice, at London Road, to the ‘Baggies` last season and it as no surprise that when the draw was made, for the FA Cup 3rd round, our paths were to cross again. This time around Posh earned a valuable 1-1 draw on West Brom territory courtesy of a late equaliser from their top-scorer, Craig Mackail-Smith and Cambridgeshire side will be hoping that Tuesday night will see them complete the job.

Ref Watch:

Andy D`Urso

Match Prediction:

Posh enter this fixture after a short break, courtesy of the Arctic weather, the team should be well rested but West Brom showed on Saturday, against Aston Villa, that they can play a slick passing game and that Tony Mowbray will not sacrifice his footballing principles in order to grind out results. This fixture could go either way, it could even go to extra-time and penalties but I`m showing faith and I`m going for Posh to provide us with a memorable night by winning in extra time.