Peterborough United have put all the disappointment from last season behind them, and they now sit at the League One summit. Darren Ferguson‘s side are a single point in front of Lincoln City, but are five points ahead of Hull City and possess two games in hand on the Yorkshire club.
The League One leaders also have an impeccable record on home soil this season, averaging 2.5 points per game at the Weston Homes Stadium. But, in a third-tier campaign that has already seen a high number of teams lead the way, it is now about consolidation for Peterborough.
Peterborough United Continue Recent Form to Mount Promotion Charge
Peterborough United Aiming for League One Promotion for an Eighth Time
The Posh were relegated from the Championship in the 2012/13 campaign, finishing the season a point from safety. The 54 points accumulated that season remains one of the biggest relegated points tallies in English football.
Although, there has been no movement in the subsequent seven seasons, Peterborough have typically been in and around a promotion battle. Five of these campaigns have seen the Cambridgeshire club finish in the top ten, including heart-break in the play-offs during the 2013/14 season.
Club are Showing Brilliant Character After Last Season’s Disappointment
In March 2020, Covid-19 put a halt to League One football, with the division announcing its curtailment three months later. At the time, Peterborough had broken into the much-desired play-off positions and were the division’s second most in-form side.
Additionally, Peterborough were just three points below Rotherham United in second place, meaning they were realistically contenders for automatic promotion. To add fuel to the fire, the final table was determined via a points-per-game basis – a system that meant the club were edged out of the play-offs by Wycombe Wanderers who found themselves in eighth place.
The club and their supporters were evidently angry at the outcome of the division, with Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony particularly vocal over what he deemed a ‘disgraceful’ decision.
Recent Form Suggests a Serious Promotion Charge
The unpredictability of football is why the game is so deeply admired, but when leading the way, it can be a curse. The club essentially know that is all in their hands, but with 17 games to go, anything can happen.
Peterborough are the division’s in-form side, winning their last five games and scoring 13 times in the process. In fact, they have only lost once in the last 13 games – a run that stretches back to early December.
A key development this campaign is Peterborough’s devastating home form. Not only do they possess the best home record in the division, but they have picked up more points-per-game on home soil than any other professional football club in England.
The Posh will still be cautious in regard to their position, given the last time they led the way this season. A week after taking top spot in early November, they proceeded to lose four of their next five games, form that left them fifth afterwards.
A Successful Summer of Recruitment Has Helped Peterborough United’s Promotion Charge
In an attacking sense, Peterborough fans were certainly expecting a more blunt season when Ivan Toney‘s departure to Brentford was announced. They may have signed Jonson Clarke-Harris from Bristol Rovers a couple of days before, but the task of filling Toney’s boots seemed a near-impossible task.
However, Clarke-Harris has emerged as a prolific goal scorer this term, netting 19 league goals already this season and leads the way in the division’s goal-scoring charts. He has particularly shone in recent weeks, scoring six in his last five, with his goal-scoring touch coinciding with Peterborough’s rise.
Posh also added Sammie Szmodics to their squad on a permanent deal in summer, following a successful loan spell in early 2020. The former Bristol City midfielder has scored six goals and assisted further three this term, and is the focal point of most of the attacking moves they put forward.
The addition of Reece Brown on-loan from Huddersfield Town has also boosted the club. Similar to Szmodics, the 24-year-old spent the second half of last season with Peterborough and when Darren Ferguson was presented with the chance to re-sign the midfielder, he jumped at the opportunity.
Brown has talent in abundance and is a player that is thriving in a team full of confidence. His ability to keep the ball ticking over and his work rate out of possession, has seen the 24-year-old become a regular starter this season and will be returning to Huddersfield well-equipped for the next stage of his career.
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