Peterborough United

Stanley pull off double loan deal
Accrington Stanley have signed Rochdale forward Kallum Higginbotham and Peterborough defender Kieran Charnock on one-month loan deals. Higginbotham, 19, has made four appearances for Dale this term and can play as a striker or winger. 24-year-old Charnock was part of Peterborough's promotion-winning squad last season but has recently fallen out of favour at London Road. Both players are in the Stanley squad for Saturday's league game at Luton. Charnock played for Peterborough last week due to international call-ups but told Radio Lancashire he does not have a long-term future at London Road under boss Darren Ferguson. "I got a chance to play and thought I had a decent game, but I'm still on the transfer list," he said. "I knew I wouldn't be playing this week. My chances are going to be limited at Peterborough so I'm happy to come out and play some games. "He has helped me out looking for clubs which he didn't have to do - he knows I want to come back to the North West, so who knows what can happen from here." Meanwhile, Higginbotham said: "I want to come here to prove to the gaffer at Rochdale I'm still capable - I didn't really have a good pre-season so that's why I lost my place."

Ferguson critical of Posh display
Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has said his side's performance in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra was unacceptable. Striker Aaron Mclean put Peterborough ahead before Tom Pope levelled late on, with Posh slipping to eighth in League One as a result. "We got a lesson in passing the ball," Ferguson told Radio Cambridgeshire. "That's not an acceptable performance, it's as simple as that. We've got to maintain our standards." While disappointed with the draw, which extended Posh's unbeaten run to 10 games, the London Road boss singled out the performances of defenders Craig Morgan and Gabriel Zakuani and goalkeeper Joe Lewis as outstanding. Peterborough are two points adrift of a play-off position ahead of their home clash with Hereford on Saturday.

Posh strikers relish competition
Peterborough United forward Craig Mackail-Smith says there is a healthy sense of competition between himself and strike partner Aaron Mclean. Mclean top scored for Posh last season, but Mackail-Smith is the current leading marksman this term. He told Radio Cambridgeshire: "It's all about bragging rights at the end of the season. "It's a shame for him that he got injured against Bristol Rovers because I think he would be pushing me harder." Mackail-Smith scored twice as Posh overcame Hereford at the weekend and has taken his tally for the season to 12. "It was nice to get back on the score sheet after three games without a goal," he said. "I haven't really set myself a target, I just want to have fun week-in, week-out and if I do then the goals will come." The 24-year-old missed from the spot, but converted from the rebound. "I stepped up and changed my mind, which is the wrong thing to do. The keeper saved it, but luckily I put the rebound in," he added.

Zakuani undecided over Posh move
Fulham defender Gabby Zakuani says he is yet to decide whether to join Peterborough on a permanent basis. The Congolese international, 21, is currently on loan at London Road, but a fee has been agreed. Zakuani told Radio Cambridgeshire: "I haven't spoken to Fulham and I won't be revealing anything until I've met with both parties. "I've spoken to Darren Ferguson and Barry Fry and I know of their interest, so it's very flattering." Zakuani has formed a formidable partnership with Craig Morgan at the heart of the Posh defence, but is only due to spend another month with the club. "The loan is done on 13 December so once that is out of the way we will sit down and try and work something out," Zakuani said. "I've enjoyed it at Peterborough, I've been pleasantly surprised by the place and the results on the pitch have been good as well." Peterborough travel to Ryman Premier League side AFC Hornchurch in the FA Cup first round on Sunday. Zakuani is hoping to make progress in the competition after being given permission to play by his parent club. "I played quite a few games for Leyton Orient so I know what it like to play against lower opposition, although obviously we will be expected to win," he said.

Ferguson backs goalkeeper Lewis
Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson is confident goalkeeper Joe Lewis will bounce back from his error in the 3-1 defeat by Leeds United. A misjudgement by Lewis allowed Leeds forward Jermaine Beckford to open the scoring at Elland Road on Saturday. Ferguson told Radio Cambridgeshire: "The lapse of concentration from Joe has cost us, he's there to do a job and he's made a mistake. "But Joe saved us many a time, I don't want to be too critical." It is not the first time that Lewis has cost his side points this season with Oldham, Hartlepool and Carlisle all benefitting from his errors. Nevertheless the England under-21 international has notched up nine clean sheets in League One and his impressive display at Tranmere helped keep United in the FA Cup. Saturday's defeat sees Posh slip to fourth in the table, just five points ahead of Leeds in seventh place. However despite the defensive mistakes, Ferguson declared himself pleased with his side's performance at Elland Road. "It was different from the 4-0 defeat at Leicester where we deserved to lose and we didn't do ourselves justice," said Ferguson. "Even some of the Leeds fans were applauding at the end and if we keep performing like that we'll get results."

Ferguson has belief in Posh squad
Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson says he is confident his squad has what it takes to win promotion to the Championship. The board have made funds available, but Posh are yet to make any new signings in the January window. Ferguson told Radio Cambridgeshire: "I imagine there are a lot of people out there thinking I'm crazy and that I should spend the money. "But the chairman has got to trust me, it's my head on the block." Posh bounced back from defeat at Leeds on Saturday with a 4-2 win over League One strugglers Crewe on Tuesday night. Ferguson says he has no plans to add his squad despite reportedly being offered the likes of Charlton pair Izale Mcleod and Chris Dickson, and Watford's Theo Robinson and Lionel Ainsworth - now with Huddersfield Town. "If we get injuries the situation will change, you can get loan players in until the end of March," he said. "I've got to make sure I get the right type of person in the dressing room, there have been players offered, but I'm happy with what I've got."

Peterborough boss earns accolade
Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson has been named as the League One manager of the month for March. Ferguson's side won all six of their league fixtures during the period. Posh defeated Leyton Orient, Hartlepool United, Scunthorpe United, Northampton Town, Bristol Rovers and Leicester City in March. The other contenders for the award were Simon Grayson of Leeds United, Kenny Jackett of Millwall and Southend United's Steve Tilson.

Posh chairman happy with Ferguson
Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony says boss Darren Ferguson will retain his full backing as long as the team remain committed on the pitch. Posh have taken just seven points from their 11 league matches this season. He told Radio Cambridgeshire: "Of course I will give Darren time to turn things around. As long as the endeavour is there we'll be alright. "Even if the worst was to happen and we get relegated, we'd have a manager who knows how to get out of League One." Posh have performed gamely in most of their matches following promotion from League One, but have lost their last three games and currently sit 23rd in the Championship table. MacAnthony firmly believes Ferguson will turn things around sooner rather than later and has called on his manager to ignore any external distractions. "When we lost to Plymouth I was in the States and made sure I got hold of the manager before he went into the post-match press conference," he said. "He could have been pretty down given the shock of losing that game, so I told him that we needed a siege mentality, to create ourselves a little bubble." Posh have built their recent success upon a philosophy of buying the best young, up-and-coming talent. And MacAnthony insists that will continue, rather than moving for proven Championship players. "We've scored 200 goals in two seasons, we should have won League Two and One," he said. "Why do we need to go out and bring experience in? "We have a plan and a policy and people need to remember that - this football club won't be relegated and I won't be panicking." However, Posh are yet to keep a clean sheet in the Championship this season and MacAnthony feels they do need defensive reinforcements. "Where are we lacking? Defensively we are lacking. If we get that sorted out we could be second or third in the table," he said. "I don't think we need players anywhere else, but it's up to the manager to bring the players in to improve us at the back." Director of football Barry Fry confirmed earlier this week that he is working to secure a defender on loan, whilst former Fulham defender Elliot Ozomuzi is also spending time on trial at the club.

Williams open to new Peterborough contract offer
Peterborough United defender Tommy Williams has said he is open to the idea of signing a new contract at London Road. The 29-year-old's current deal runs out in the summer and he recently spent time on loan at QPR. Williams told Radio Cambridgeshire: "I've never fallen out with anybody here and I love the club; I've been back here four times." "If I was offered something that was suitable, I would definitely sign." He added: "I'm keeping my options open because I've got one little boy who's about to start school and another child on the way." Williams made his first Posh appearance since returning from his loan spell against Tottenham in the FA Cup third round this month. It was also his first match under new boss Mark Cooper. Meanwhile, Danny Andrew has joined Cheltenham Town on a month's loan, and Southend have confirmed that Posh were the Championship club who failed to agree terms with their right-back Simon Francis. "I listened to what Peterborough had to say, but it didn't seem right at the moment," Francis told the Southend website.

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