WHUFC.com
A pitch inspection will take place at London Road at 10am on Saturday
10.02.2012
Peterborough United have confirmed that a pitch inspection will be held at
London Road at 10am on Saturday 11 February ahead of the npower Championship
visit of West Ham United. Heavy snowfall overnight between Thursday and
Friday resulted in the pitch and stadium areas being covered in snow. With
sub-zero temperatures expected on Friday night the decision has been made to
leave the snow on the pitch until early Saturday morning as it will act as
an insulation blanket until it is removed.
The Cambridgeshire club has appealed for at least 300 volunteers to assist
with clearing the snow from the pitch early on Saturday morning. Ideally,
Peterborough would like volunteers to arrive, preferably with snow shovels,
from 7am and report to reception. All volunteers need to be over the age of
18. The procedure will be to clear the snow from the covers on the pitch,
transport it outside of the stadium to a designated tipping area and allow
the covers to be removed for a 10am pitch inspection by the match referee
Chris Sarginson.
A Peterborough spokesman has confirmed that the pitch-clearing operation is
open to supporters of both clubs. Gritting lorries will be deployed at the
stadium and surrounding areas on Friday and on Saturday morning to ensure
spectator safety outside of the ground. With a capacity crowd expected at
London Road, Posh chief executive Bob Symns said the club was eager for the
game to go ahead. "At the moment, the pitch beneath the covers is playable,"
he confirmed. "Obviously we are all now waiting for the results of the
overnight temperatures. We are doing everything we can to ensure this game
will take place, but we really need your assistance to remove the snow first
thing on Saturday morning."
The official website and club's twitter feed will have all the latest
developments from London Road on Saturday morning.
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Peterborough match preview
WHUFC.com
Background information and team news ahead of Saturday's trip to London Road
to face the Posh
10.02.2012
PETERBOROUGH UNITED v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
• npower Championship leaders West Ham United will be looking to extend
their four-point advantage at the top of the table when they travel to
18th-placed Peterborough United on Saturday. The Hammers will also be
looking to record their fourth 'double' of the season, having already beaten
Coventry City, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest home and away this term.
• The Hammers have collected more points away from home (27) than any other
club in the npower Championship. Sam Allardyce's side have collected 56
points from 29 games played. West Ham United have won eight of their 15 away
league matches this season, collecting all three points at Doncaster Rovers,
Nottingham Forest, Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, Coventry
City, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.
• The Posh go into the game 18th in the table, having collected 34 points
from 29 matches. Darren Ferguson's men have lost three and failed to win any
of their previous six league matches. Peterborough United's most-recent
league win came at Nottingham Forest (1-0) on Boxing Day.
• Youth-team players and staff have been clearing the London Road pitch of
snow following last weekend's wintry weather. The pitch has been covered and
Peterborough United are hopeful of the game going ahead.
• West Ham United and Peterborough United have met just three times in
competitive fixtures - facing each other in Division One during the 1992/93
season. The Hammers were victorious in both fixtures, winning 3-1 at London
Road on 12 September 1992 and 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on 9 February 1993.
The most-recent meeting was the 1-0 win recorded by the Hammers in the
reverse npower Championship fixture at the Boleyn Ground on 24 September
2011.
Us and Them
• The Posh were a League Two club as recently as the 2007/08 season when
they finished second in the same season that the Hammers finished tenth in
the Premier League.
• Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was a spectator when
West Ham United travelled to London Road for a pre-season friendly on 14
July 2010. Carlton Cole and Anthony Edgar were on target for the Hammers in
a 2-1 victory, with striker Dave Hibbert scoring The Posh's consolation.
• Sam Baldock scored MK Dons' second goal in their 3-2 League One Play-Off
semi-final first leg victory over Peterborough United on 15 May 2011, only
for The Posh to win the second leg 2-0 at London Road and go on to secure
promotion to the Championship.
• Sam Allardyce has squared up against Darren Ferguson, the son of Big Sam's
good friend Sir Alex, once before as manager. As Blackburn Rovers supremo,
he earned a League Cup quarter-final tie with a 5-2 home defeat of
Peterborough United on 28 October 2009. Joe Lewis was sent off for the Posh.
• Peterborough director of football Barry Fry was manager of Birmingham City
under David Sullivan and David Gold between 1993 and 1996.
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Peterborough United during their careers - Bobby Barnes, Matthew
Etherington, Bill Green, Steven Laurie, Dave Llewellyn, Grant McCann, Adam
Newton, John Woodburn and Terry Woodgate.
• No West Ham United player has made his debut against Peterborough United.
Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United have named a strong squad for the 85-mile trip to
Cambridgeshire. with new signings Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te, George John
and Ravel Morrison all part of the 20-man travelling party.
• Maynard, Morrison and John will all be eager to pull on a claret and blue
shirt for the first time, while Vaz Te will be keen to build on his late
cameo appearance in the 2-1 home win over Millwall a week ago.
• Captain Kevin Nolan is definitely out as he begins a three-match ban after
being sent-off against the Lions. Gary O'Neil, Henri Lansbury and Matt
Taylor will be among those looking to take the skipper's place in the
starting XI.
• Papa Bouba Diop continues to be sidelined with a hamstring problem, while
John Carew and George McCartney are minor injury doubts after picking up
knocks in training.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Peter Kurucz, Paul McCallum (both Rochdale),
Cristian Montano (Notts County) and George Moncur (AFC Wimbledon) are all
out on temporary loans.
Peterborough United
• Darren Ferguson has a fully-fit squad to choose from.
• The Posh are without loanees Joe Day (Alfreton), Kelvin Langmead
(Northampton Town), Danny Mills (Kettering Town), Nathan Ralph (Kettering
Town) and Nicky Ajose (Chesterfield).
Last time out
Saturday 4 February 2012
npower Championship
West Ham United 2-1 Millwall
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Faye, Reid, Tomkins, Noble,
Nolan, Faubert ,(O'Neil 80), Collison (Taylor 46), Cole (Vaz Te 87)
Subs not used: Baldock, Maynard
Goals: Cole 45, Reid 69
Red card: Nolan 9
Saturday 4 February 2012
npower Championship
Burnley 1-1 Peterborough United
Peterborough United: Lewis, Little, Bennett, Zakauni, Alcock, Boyd, McCann,
Rowe, Frecklington (Tunnicliffe 70), Ball (Tomlin 75), Taylor
Subs not used: Jones, Kearns, Sinclair
Goal: Taylor 12
Previous meetings
• West Ham United and Peterborough United have met just twice in competitive
fixtures prior to this season - facing each other in Division One during the
1992/93 season. The Hammers were victorious in both fixtures, winning 3-1 at
London Road on 12 September 1992 and 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on 9 February
1993.
• The two sides met at the Boleyn Ground on 24 September 2011, with West Ham
United running out 1-0 winners through Mark Noble's 11th-minute penalty. The
two teams that day were:
West Ham United: Green, Reid, McCartney, Faye, O'Brien, Faubert (Bentley
67), Nolan, Taylor (Tomkins 90), Noble, Lansbury, Cole (Carew 56)
Subs not used: Boffin, Baldock
Peterborough United: Jones, Little, Bennett, Zakuani, Alcock, McCann, Rowe,
Tunnicliffe (Tomlin 46), Frecklington (Kearns 90), Boyd, Sinclair
Subs not used: Lewis, Wootton, Taylor
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Peterborough United
2010/11 League One 4th (79 points - promoted to Championship via Play-Offs)
2009/10 Championship 24th (34 points - relegated to League One)
2008/09 League One 2nd (89 points - promoted to Championship)
2007/08 League Two 2nd (92 points - promoted to League One)
2006/07 League Two 10th (65 points)
2005/06 League Two 9th (62 points)
2004/05 League One 23rd (39 points - relegated to League Two)
2003/04 Second Division 18th (52 points)
2002/03 Second Division 11th (58 points)
2001/02 Second Division 17th (55 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Chris Sarginson. He will be assisted by Simon
Barrow and Danny Gratton, while the fourth official will be John Farries.
• Sarginson has never taken charge of a West Ham United competitive fixture.
However, he has refereed four Peterborough United matches - the most-recent
being a 4-1 npower League One defeat at Southampton on 20 November 2010.
Old boys
• West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison spent two years with Peterborough
United as a schoolboy, playing for the club between the ages of ten and 12.
The Wales international was also close to re-joining the club for a
pre-agreed fee of £300,000 in January 2009, only to make his Hammers debut
at Arsenal on New Year's Day and remain at the Boleyn Ground.
• Peterborough United midfielder Grant McCann came through the Academy ranks
at West Ham United, turning professional in 1998 and going on to make four
substitute appearances for the club before joining Cheltenham Town for
£50,000 in January 2003.
• The Posh's Belfast-born Republic of Ireland U23 international winger
Daniel Kearns spent three years with West Ham United between 2007 and 2010
before being released and joining League of Ireland Premier Division club
Dundalk.
• The following players are among those to have worn the colours of both
West Ham United and Peterborough United during their careers - Bobby Barnes,
Matthew Etherington, Bill Green, Steven Laurie, Dave Llewellyn, Grant
McCann, Adam Newton, John Woodburn and Terry Woodgate.
• The late great Noel Cantwell played for West Ham United before going on to
manage Peterborough United on two occasions. The Cork-born Republic of
Ireland full-back spent eight seasons with the Hammers, making 274
appearances, scoring eleven goals and winning the Division Two title in
1957/58. Cantwell later took charge at London Road in 1972, winning the
Division Four title in his first season with The Posh. After leaving for a
spell in the United States with the Jacksonville Tea Men, the Irishman
returned to Peterborough between 1986 and 1988.
Up next
• West Ham United play host to Southampton on Tuesday night for a 7.45pm
npower Championship kick-off, with Peterborough travelling to Cardiff City
at the same time.
General information
• The weather forecast is for sunny intervals with temperatures peaking
around the 2C (36F) mark.
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Peterborough game in jeopardy
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
A team of volunteers have been helping Peterborough United clear their
London Road ground of snow - although it still may not be enough to save
tomorrow's fixture.
Hundreds of supporters - including Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony and the
club's youth team - have pitched in to help clear several inches of snow
that has fallen in the town during the past few days. However tomorrow's
match against West Ham - from which a win could see Sam Allardyce's side go
SEVEN points clear at the top - is still in the balance due to fresh
overnight snowfalls in Cambridgeshire and the freezing conditions. With no
undersoil heating in place at the stadium, groundsmen have covered the
playing surface in an attempt to ensure it remains playable. However it
remains touch and go to see whether the game can go ahead due to the
extrmely low temperatures that could make the pitch dangerous to play on.
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Piquionne not off
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 10th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has dismissed reports that Freddie Piquionne is set for a loan
move to Championship strugglers Doncaster. Earlier in the week agent Willie
McKay had insisted that the two clubs were liaising with regards to a
potential loan move for the unwanted forward for the remainder of the
season. However Hammers boss Allardyce, speaking ahead of West Ham's planned
trip to Peterborough this weekend insisted that no seuch deal had been
struck - nor was on the cards. "At the moment we've had one or two enquiries
about one or two of our players on loan," said Allardyce, "but nothing has
been okayed up until now."
Piquionne was made surplus to requirements following a dreadfully
disappointing first half of the season in which he managed to score just TWO
goals in 21 appearances. Now 33, the French striker has been told that he
has no future at the club - despite being contracted to the Hammers until
the summer of 2013, having signed a three-year contract when moving from
Portsmouth in 2010.
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Who's that Guy?
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 10th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Guy Demel has targeted the Valentines Day encounter with Southampton for a
first team return. The Ivorian right-back has become something of a laughing
stock amongst supporters having failed to complete a single game for West
Ham since joining United from German club SV Hamburg in the summer, due to a
succession of injuries.
However the 30-year-old is set to make his latest comeback next week -
assuming all goes to plan. Speaking via his Twitter account this morning,
the 30-year-old said: "Up and ready for core session, getting ready for my
comeback against Southampton."
Demel made his debut for the club at the end of November in the 2-0 win at
Middlesbrough, during which he managed to play a whole 79 minutes before
being replaced by Joey O'Brien. Having missed the following week's 2-1
defeat at home to Burnley, Demel returned for the away trip to Reading.
However he lasted less than five minutes when he was substituted following
his second touch of the ball.
Top five sicknotes this century
5. James Collins
Signed: July 2005 (£1.5million)
Left: September 2009 (Aston Villa, £5million)
Appearances: 61 (4)
Average games per season: 16
4. Danny Gabbidon
Signed: July 2005 (£1.5million)
Left: July 2011 (free transfer)
Appearances: 105 (8)
Average games per season: 18.83
3. Don Hutchison
Signed: August 2001 (£5million)
Left: August 2005(free transfer)
Appearances: 41 (30)
Average games per season: 17.75
2. Nigel Quashie
Signed: January 2007 (£1.5million)
Left: January 2010 (free transfer)
Appearances: 8 (0)
Average games per season: 3
1. Kieron Dyer
Signed: August 2007 (£6million)
Left: July 2011 (free transfer)
Appearances: 17 (16)
Average games per season: 8
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West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne set to snub Doncaster Rovers
Doncasterfreepress.co.uk
By Paul Goodwin
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 08:49
DONCASTER Rovers' hopes of landing West Ham United striker Frederic
Piquionne are fading fast, the Free Press understands. A deal was agreed
between the two clubs which would have seen the Frenchman join Rovers on
loan until the end of the season. Dean Saunders and Willie McKay spoke with
Piquionne on Wednesday in an attempt to convince him to join Rovers' battle
against relegation while Free Press sources believed at that time that a
deal was likely. But it is now understood Piquionne may have received a
better offer from elsewhere and will now snub the dogfight with Rovers. The
33-year-old was told by Hammers boss Sam Allardyce there would be nothing in
his way should he want to leave on loan. Piquionne has slipped down the West
Ham pecking order following the arrivals of Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky Maynard
during the transfer window. Saunders is keen to add firepower to his ranks
following Billy Sharp's move to Southampton and turned to Piquionne, who
Rovers were linked with during the early days of the Welshman's tenure.
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Irons insight: I like Nolan, but he has to provide more than just leadership
for West Ham
Matt Porter, London24 West Ham blogger
Friday, February 10, 2012
9:11 AM
If it wasn't so cold, I'd cross my fingers and toes that tomorrow's match at
Peterborough goes ahead, not least because we've already forked out on train
tickets and I'm going to struggle to find an alternative socially acceptable
reason to be in the pub by midday on Saturday! The game will be notable for
the absence of skipper Kevin Nolan who, after his straight red card last
Saturday, will be sitting out the first of three matches. First and
foremost, it needs to be said that I like Nolan. He's an excellent leader of
men something somewhat lacking from his predecessor as captain and he has an
uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time in the
opponent's box.
The nature of his sending off against Millwall last week probably says it
all about him. I think his heart was in the right place and he wanted to get
a crunching tackle in to get the fans onside in a big derby game. He seemed
close to tears as he trudged off, but he paid the price for his split-second
stupidity.
The problem all season has been that, leadership aside, telling
contributions from the skipper have been few and far between. Nolan has the
tendency to let the game whizz around him without really getting involved.
In a perverse sense, Nolans inactivity has been the making of Mark Noble,
who in recent months is probably playing as well as he's ever played.
It will be intriguing, therefore, to see how the shape and tempo of the team
changes in Nolans absence. It has been clear from the very outset that
Allardyce will always pick him if available, but now his hands are tied and
we will see three games without the former Bolton and Newcastle man.
With a game under the lights at the Boleyn against promotion rivals
Southampton coming up on Tuesday, Big Sam will have to use the squad at his
disposal.
Whatever the make-up of his matchday sixteen, it would seem that a reserve
goalkeeper wont be among them.
Its a risky ploy that always makes me uneasy, especially against Millwall
when our so-called 'back-up' keeper Henri Lansbury wasn't even involved.
Considering how Allardyces overwhelming philosophy all season long has been
safety first, I am left scratching my head at this policy which seems to
risk so much for so little benefit.
Still, it'd make for an exciting spectacle if Rob Green tweaks a hamstring
in the nippy weather tomorrow, wouldn't it?
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Posh preview: spotlight on West Ham
Peterboroughtoday.co.uk
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 09:45
IT'S possible for West Ham to field a team at London Road tomorrow of 11
full internationals. Not all are currently in first-team favour though.
Robert Green: England goalkeeper at the 2010 World Cup.
Winston Reid: Played in all three of New Zealand's matches at the 2010 World
Cup.
George McCartney: A Northern Ireland international left-back.
Abdoulaye Faye: Over 30 caps for Senegal.
Papa Bouba Diop: Over 60 caps for Senegal.
Lauren Faubert: Full French international.
Jack Collison: Former Posh kid with senior Welsh caps.
David Bentley: Winger with seven England caps.
Joey O'Brien: Irish international.
John Carew: Norwegian legend.
Carlton Cole: Seven England caps as a substitute.
AS well as that star-studded line-up West Ham can also call-up England Under
21 caps, James Tomkins, Mark Noble and Matt Taylor. Club captain Kevin Nolan
has also represented England at Under 21 level, but he is suspended tomorrow
after picking up a red card in the early stages of last Saturday's win over
Millwall at Upton Park.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was busy in the January transfer window signing
striker Nicky Maynard from Bristol City and winger Ricardo Vaz Te from
Barnsley. Vaz Te scored for Barnsley at London Road earlier this season. The
Londoners also have striker Sam Baldock in their squad. Posh agreed a
million pound fee with MK Dons for Baldock, but a meeting between player and
Posh boss Darren Ferguson didn't go well. Baldock has scored five goals this
season, but is likely to be on the fringes.
Current form:
WEST Ham bounced back from a shock 5-1 mauling at Ipswich to beat Millwall
last Saturday despite playing with 10 men for 80 minutes.
Last five games
v Millwall (h) W2-1 (Ch)
v Ipswich (a) L1-5 (Ch)
v N Forest (h) W2-1 (Ch)
v Portsmouth (a) W1-0 (Ch)
v Sheff W (a) L0-1 (FAC)
Key: Ch=Championship, FAC=FA Cup.
Pst Posh v West Ham:
September 12, 1992
Posh 1, West Ham 3
10,657
Division One
THE Hammers cruised to victory in their one and only competitive visit to
London Road almost 20 years ago. West Ham, managed by Billy Bonds, had been
relegated from the top flight the previous season and were intent on a
speedy return. Posh had reached the First Division for the first time in
their history on the back of successive promotions and the gulf in class was
soon apparent. Tony Adcock (above) actually prodded Posh in front in the
16th minute from Lee Howarth's knockdown, but that just woke the visitors up
and they had killed the game by half-time thanks to goals from Trevor
Morley, Martin Allen and Kevin Keen.
Current Posh coach Mark Robson was in the Hammers team.
Posh: Bennett, Luke, Robinson, Howarth, Welsh, Ebdon, Halsall, Sterling,
Barnes, Adcock, Charlery. Sub used Costello.
West Ham: Miklosko, Breacker, Thomas, Potts, Martin, M. Allen, Robson,
Butler, Keen, Morley, C. Allen.
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Posh preview: Hammers high on entertainment value
Peterboroughtoday.co.uk
By Alan Swann
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 09:45
SAM Allardyce insists his West Ham team do play entertaining football. The
Hammers boss gets quite prickly when he hears moans, mostly from opponents,
about his team's direct style of play. As part of his defence he just points
to the Championship table which shows West Ham four points clear of the rest
of the division. West Ham have won 17 of their 29 fixtures and Allardyce is
adamant his players have performed with style. Allardyce said: "Any
criticism of the way we play doesn't make any sense to me. All this team did
before was lose. "I've been a manager for 18 years and not for the life of
me would I expect a football fan to accept playing well and losing, rather
than playing well and winning. If you're unable to play well then just win.
"We have entertained really well at home this year, but when we have lost
people have said we were poor. In fact I don't remember many games when we
haven't put on a good show. "We've struggled in certain games, but every
team has those. In most games we have created more chances than the
opposition, but it's a fact that some teams sit so far back they let you
entertain. "We could probably do with being a bit more clinical, but we have
scored four against Forest, Blackpool and Watford so we have shown we can do
it."
It looks odds on that West Ham will return to the Premier League at the
first attempt, especially if they negotiate tomorrow's match and Tuesday's
home clash with second-placed Southampton. But how well will they fare back
among the big boys? One Hammers legend reckons they will need to recruit and
invest heavily in the squad. Former goalkeeper Phil Parkes said: "West Ham
only have three or four players in their squad capable of doing the business
in the Premier League. "Robert Green and James Tomkins have been excellent,
while I have been impressed by Matt Taylor because he gives the team
something different. "But apart from those only Mark Noble for me is good
enough. They will be promoted, but I haven't seen them play particularly
well all season. "The team is set up well away from home where they sit back
and hit teams on the counter-attack, but at home they need someone with a
bit of imagination and flair who can unlock defences and, apart from Taylor,
they haven't got it."
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Posh ready for massive upset against West Ham
Peterboroughtoday.co.uk
By Alan Swann
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 09:40
Peterborough United believe they can deliver a Championship giant-killing by
beating leaders West Ham in front of a sell-out London Road crowd on
Saturday (3pm).
Manager Darren Ferguson senses that his players are in the mood to cause a
massive upset and register their first win of 2012. It appears to be a tall
order as the Hammers are four points clear at the top and look odds-on
favourites to make an immediate return to the top flight. Posh are 18th and
haven't won a match since Boxing Day. But Ferguson said: "We lacked a bit of
belief when we played them at their place and that won't be the case
tomorrow. "We still only lost that day to a soft penalty and they were
hanging on a bit at the end so we know we can trouble them. "Obviously they
are a big, strong side who have have made some good signings in January.
They are excellent at set-pieces and we will need a strong referee because
they have won more penalties than any other side in the Championship. "But
we will try and impose our game on them. If we pass the ball well and keep
the ball well we can cause them problems. "It's a game every one of my
players is looking forward to and it's definitely a game we can win. Ipswich
beat them 5-1 recently which shows what can happen in this league,"
Ferguson is set to hand a debut to new loan signing Matthew Briggs. Briggs
is on loan from Premier League side Fulham and will start at left-back with
Craig Alcock favourite to play right-back ahead of Mark Little and Tommy
Rowe expected to move back into midfield. Ferguson added: "I haven't picked
my team yet, but I am excited by having Matthew in the squad. I rate him
very highly and I've been trying to sign him for a year. "He's a Premier
League player really so I expect he will go well for us. He's a natural
left-footer so he will give us balance when we are attacking."
Posh are expected to stick with David Ball and Paul Taylor as a strike
pairing. Ferguson revealed that he needed to get a rest into fleet-footed
forward Emile Sinclair as he had been involved in 23 games in a row.
Groundstaff confident game will go ahead
POSH remain confident that the match will go ahead, even club chairman
Darragh MacAnthony mucked in during a ground clearance operation yesterday.
He and members of the Posh youth team removed several inches of snow from
the pitch. Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: "I've had a meeting with the head
groundsman and other people who know more than me and they are confident the
game will take place. "The snow has helped the pitch cover protect the
surface and as long as the temperature doesn't drop below minus two I reckon
we will be okay to play, "We certainly want the game on." There are no
safety issues with the area surrounding the stadium.
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