Wigan Athletic vs Peterborough United | League One Preview
After three 0-0 draws in a row, Wigan Athletic host Peterborough United in our final game of the home triple header.
Part One | An overview of our opponents. 🔎
Part Two | “Who to Watch” players. 👓
Part Three | What can we expect from this game? 🏟️
If the three 0-0 draws have sent you to sleep, it’s time to wake up. Wigan Athletic have another game at home, and this time we face Peterborough United 🔵
Shaun Maloney did the league double over Darren Ferguson last season, with the Latics winning 2-1 on home turf in November before travelling to the Weston Homes Stadium to record a 3-2 victory.
Both sides have lost valuable assets over the summer, and are in a period of waiting for their new squads to gel. Peterborough have started slightly better than Wigan, but our four-game unbeaten run could prove to be a huge advantage.
Let’s dive into the match preview 🗞️
Peterborough United
On May 17th 1934, Peterborough United FC was formed to replace Peterborough and Fletton United who had collapsed 19 months earlier with outstanding debts of £248, 1 shilling, and 11 pence, which is around £14,500 in today’s value.
They were nicknamed ‘The Posh’, as former Peterborough and Fletton United manager, Pat Tirrel, said in 1921 that he was looking for Posh players to form a Posh team - by Posh he meant good - and it stuck from that. Another football history lesson for you! 👨🏫
A local councillor named Jack Swain was appointed as Chairman, and delivered a speech to the supporters stating “I think that with the revival of old enthusiasm in the city, Peterborough will ultimately find a place in the Football League”. Swain’s optimism would eventually become a reality.
Peterborough United began their journey in the Midland League in 1934/35, where they remained until the end of the 1959/60 season when they won the league for the fifth consecutive time. Each time the polls were run at the Football League meeting following their title wins, Posh did not receive enough votes to be elected and remained a Midland League participant.
However, in the Summer of 1960, after a total of fourteen attempts over the years, Peterborough finally received enough votes (35) to be inducted into the Fourth Division 🤝
As far as debut seasons in a new division go, Peterborough United may have had the best there will ever be after their outstanding 1960/61 campaign. Posh won 28 of their 46 games, drawing 10 and losing 8 on their path to winning the title, but they scored an incredible 134 goals - a record that still stands today. The late Terry Bly netted fifty-four times, and you may not be surprised to learn that he secured the Golden Boot for this season 🌟
Peterborough spent seven seasons in Division Three before relegation in the 1967/68 season set them back. Six seasons and another Golden Boot later, when Peter Price scored 32 goals in the 1971/72 season to help Posh finish 8th, the midlands club won the Division Four title again in 1973/74.
A seventh-place finish in their first season back provided plenty of optimism. However, over the next two seasons Posh dropped to 10th and then 16th.
A resurgent 1977-78 season provided a fourth-place finish, where Peterborough missed out on promotion on goal difference. Preston North End also picked up 56 points but had a goal difference of +25, while Posh’s ended on +14. The next season, Peterborough were relegated again. Heartbreak 💔
For the next twelve seasons, Peterborough began to fall down the Division Four standings after initially placing fifth in back-to-back seasons. The Play Offs were introduced in 1987, with Peterborough missing out on the final place on goal difference to Swansea City, who went on to win promotion.
Finally, in the 1990/91 season, Peterborough gained promotion after a fourth-place finish helped them to avoid the Play-Offs and make the jump automatically. In their first season back in Division Three, Posh secured the final Play-Off spot with a sixth-place finish where they beat Huddersfield Town in the Semi-Finals and Stockport County in the Final to secure back-to-back promotion for the first time in their history 🏆
In the second tier of the Football League for the first time, Peterborough United finished in a very respectable 10th place, fourteen points behind Leicester City who held the final Play-Off spot to fight for promotion into the newly founded Premier League. However, a season later they finished bottom on 37 points, twelve adrift of Oxford United and fourteen adrift of Birmingham City who also suffered relegation.
Peterborough’s downfall continued over the next three seasons with finishes in 15th, 19th, and 21st to condemn them to another relegation. They eventually returned to the third tier following a successful Play-Off campaign in the 1999/2000 season, securing a 5-1 aggregate win over Barnet in the Semi-Final before Andy Clarke, their top scorer with 18 this season, scored the only goal in the Final against Darlington ⚽️
The Posh struggled to establish any strong foundations in the third tier over the next five seasons, and following a poor 2004/05 season they dropped into the newly named League Two. Following initial 9th and 10th place finishes, Peterborough gained automatic promotion with a 2nd-place and went on to secure another 2nd-place finish a season later to achieve back-to-back promotions again to reach the Championship 📈
History has shown that the second tier hasn’t been kind to Peterborough, and in their first campaign back they finished bottom. However, Posh wouldn’t have to wait long to return as they achieved a Play-Off spot the next season where they beat MK Dons 4-3 in the Semi-Final and beat Huddersfield Town 3-0 in the Final which was held at Old Trafford in front of 48,000 fans.
An 18th-place finish gave the city hope that they could successfully make the step up to the Championship, but a 22nd-place finish - one point behind Barnsley who even had a worse goal difference - saw Posh return to League One.
In the 2013-14 season, an instant return to the Championship looked on the cards again for Peterborough who secured a 6th-place finish to compete in the Play-Offs again. However, in the Semi-Finals they bowed out against Leyton Orient with an aggregate scoreline of 3-2.
Posh did achieve some success this season, as they won the EFL Trophy for the first time in their history following a 3-1 win over Chesterfield at Wembley. The current manager, Darren Ferguson, was the gaffer in charge that day during his second stint at the club. 🏆
Over the next six seasons, Peterborough established themselves as a top-half League One team and eventually achieved automatic promotion in the 2020/21 season with a 2nd-place finish. However, history again repeated itself as Posh were relegated from the Championship after just one season.
In 2022/23, history repeated itself yet another time as Peterborough achieved another Play-Off spot the season after Championship relegation, and following a 4-0 Semi-Final first-leg victory over Sheffield Wednesday they looked primed to reach the Final. Disaster struck in the second leg, as Wednesday overturned the deficit to win 5-1 at Hillsborough, before going on to win 5-3 on Penalties. Heartbreak, again 💔
Last season, Peterborough United bettered their league position by finishing fourth but missed out on promotion with a Play-Off Semi-Final loss against Oxford United. However, Posh won the EFL Trophy for the second time in their history, with Darren Ferguson becoming one of four managers to win the competition twice, following Steve McMahon to win it twice with the same club.
Lou Macari | Birmingham City 1991 and Stoke City 1992
Steve McMahon | Blackpool 2002 and 2004
Kenny Jackett | Swansea City 2006 and Portsmouth 2019
Darren Ferguson | Peterborough United 2014 and 2024
Darren Ferguson has overseen a fairly large change in personnel this summer, with some big names leaving the club. Peterborough supporters bid farewell to players such as; Fynn Talley (GK to Hong Kong side, Kitchee), Harrison Burrows (LB and Captain to Sheffield United), Ronnie Edwards (CB to Southampton), Josh Knight (CB to Hannover 96), Charlie O’Connell (CB to Boreham Wood), Vontae Daley-Campbell (RB to Chesterfield), Jeandro Fuchs (Mid to Isreal-side, Bnei Sakhnin), Ephron Mason-Clark (Fwd to Coventry City), Kai Corbett (Fwd to Aldershot), and Jonson Clarke-Harris (Fwd to Rotherham) 👋
In a bid to secure another shot at Championship football, Ferguson has recruited; Rio Adebisi (LB from Crewe Alexandra), Jack Sparkes (LB from Portsmouth), Jadel Katongo (CB on loan from Man City), Oscar Wallin (CB from Swedish side, Degerfors), George Nevett (CB from Rochdale), Sam Curtis (RB from Sheffield United), Mahamadou Susoho (Mid from Man City), Chris Conn-Clarke (Mid from Altrincham), Abraham Odoh (Fwd from Harrogate Town), Cian Hayes (Fwd from Fleetwood Town), Bradley Ihionvien (Fwd from Colchester United), and Gustav Lindgren (Fwd from Swedish side, Degerfors) ✍️
So far this season, Peterborough United have played eight games, securing three wins and two draws to put eleven points on the board and place Posh twelfth. They have scored 14 goals, which is the joint-second most alongside Wycombe Wanderers and Wrexham, but have also conceded 14 which is only second to Cambridge United who have conceded 15. Ferguson’s side are yet to keep a clean sheet, which is becoming a cause for concern in their defensive abilities.
As they will be visiting Wigan at the Brick Community Stadium, their away form will provide some positives. Peterborough have won two and drawn one of their four on the road, scoring ten of their fourteen goals while conceding seven. Posh led 2-0 at Birmingham City after 16 minutes, before falling to a 3-2 defeat last time out. There are positives there in the ability to take that fight to a dominant Blues side.
Peterborough United’s Last 5 League One Results
Peterborough United 0 - 2 Wrexham AFC
Peterborough United 1 - 1 Lincoln City
⚽️ Goal: K. Poku (65’)
Peterborough United 3 - 2 Bristol Rovers
⚽️ Goals: K. Poku (10’), R-J. Jones (33’), M. Mothersille (63’)
Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Peterborough United
⚽️ Goals: K. Poku (42’), M. Mothersille (Pen. 45+1’)
Birmingham City 3 - 2 Peterborough United
⚽️ Goals: R-J. Jones (4’), E. Fernandez (16’)
Peterborough United’s squad is one that I admire every season, and this version of it remains strong. These are my top three ones to watch 👇🏼
Kwame Poku (#11, Attacking Midfielder, Age: 23, joined on August 2nd 2021 from Colchester United)
If there was a ‘League One Dictionary’ that would define what a tenacious and clinical attacking midfielder is, Kwame Poku’s name would be the currently provided example.
The Croydon-born Ghana international impressed Ferguson during his time at Colchester United but admitted he was having an inconsistent time while trying to break into the first team at just 19 years of age. Upon signing for Posh in August 2021, Ferguson stated “He can play as a ten, he can play wide right or even wide left at a push, he is a talented boy and I believe he has real potential. It is a really good signing for the football club.”
Poku failed to score in 20 Championship appearances, registering only two assists, but during their 2022/23 return season in League One he netted five times and provided eleven assists. Those assists alone totalled Poku’s combined amount for all previous senior-level seasons.
Last season, Poku scored eleven goals and provided seven assists in the league, and so far this season he is joint top scorer with five goals in eight appearances. Ten of his thirteen shots have been on target, showing how much of an attacking threat he is. Clinical ⚽️
Malik Mothersille (#7, Forward, Age: 20, joined on September 2nd 2023 from Chelsea U21s)
Former Leyton Orient and Chelsea Academy forward, Malik Mothersille, became a ‘Posh Player ™’ in September 2023 and enjoyed a successful first season in the Midlands.
When he signed, Ferguson stated, “There is no pressure on Malik whatsoever, he is someone for the short, mid and long-term.”. That lack of pressure allowed Mothersille to develop well in the EFL Trophy squad last season, where he started in 6 games on their run-up to the final, scoring a goal in the Group Stage, Quarter-Final and Semi-Final stage, before being subbed on in the Final in the 80th minute - with the game against Wycombe Wanderers locked at 0-0 - where Peterborough went on to win 2-1.
In League One last season, Mothersille netted three times and provided three assists in 22 appearances, but has already netted three times and provided one assist in 8 appearances so far in this campaign.
If the 20-year-old left-sided forward can continue to shine with the game time being provided, Peterborough supporters can look forward to yet another Play-Off campaign come May.
Emmanuel Fernandez (#37, Centre Back, Age: 22, joined on July 10th 2021 from Ramsgate)
There has been an ongoing theme of centre-backs being included in my ones-to-watch list, but it is hard to keep Emmanuel Fernandez from the top three at Ferguson’s disposal. He is that good.
The 22-year-old joined from Ramsgate in July 2021, but has been made to wait for regular first-team appearances until this season. Fernandez picked up just one appearance in Posh’s most recent Championship season before going on loan to Barnet in the National League to pick up eight appearances where he managed just two 90-minutes while helping to four clean sheets.
Fernandez scored his first Peterborough goal in an EFL Trophy home tie against Tottenham Hotspur U21s on Halloween night 2023, and netted again just days later in an FA Cup First Round draw against Salford City.
Due to the departure of Josh Knight and Ronnie Edwards this summer, Ferguson has put his trust in Fernandez to become a regular starter and the risk is providing rewards.
The centre-back is second in the league for total clearances with 54, one behind Eoghan O’Connell at Wrexham, and sits twelfth overall for aerial duels won (38/56) and blocked shots (7). While those stats - combined with the fourteen goals conceded - underline how much work the defence has to do, Fernandez is showing that he is up to the challenge and can be successful.
While being a battler in one box, Fernandez scored his first league goal away at Exeter City on August 24th after picking up the ball in his own half to travel the length of the field and unleash an excellent shot from range to beat Joe Whitworth. If you haven’t seen it, go and watch it on YouTube! 🎯 The centre-back then scored the second against Birmingham City last time out with a strong header at the far post to divert Jadel Katongo’s corner past Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Surely, surely, this can’t be another 0-0. Wigan have now gone around 300 minutes without scoring a goal, but we haven’t conceded a goal in the league since August 31st which totals 360 minutes of game time. One of those has to give sooner or later, and I have a strong feeling this will be the game that the net finally ripples.
Peterborough United have scored 14 goals so far, and will no doubt bring their dangerous attacking threat into this game. Over the last three games, they have scored at least two goals in each with a 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers at the start of this run. Wigan will have to be incredibly disciplined as a team if we are to be strong defensively again and keep a fifth straight clean sheet.
It’s been clear throughout the season so far that our attacking threat just is not that strong. Chances are being created, our press is good, but Latics are not being clinical in the final third. I feel that something needs to change.
At the back, if they are available, I would stick with Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, and Chambers. With Posh being so attacking, I would like to see Adeeko come in as a defensive midfielder alongside Matt Smith, allowing Jensen Weir to push forward in possession to join Aasgaard and Olakigbe behind the hard-working Dale Taylor.
This would allow us to defend the midfield better but have players who can be quick in the transition to attacking phases. Our wing play isn’t working so well at the moment, and I would like to see us play more narrowly with Chambers given the freedom to run the channel to play as a supporting winger when needed.
However we set up, and whatever happens in the game, I would like to see Wigan break the lock and score before we next concede. That will give them a bigger confidence boost and could kickstart a very strong run of results with wins rather than draws.
P.S. Please Wigan, not another 0-0 draw!
👕 Starting XI Prediction: Tickle, Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers, Adeeko, M Smith, Weir, Aasgaard, Olakigbe, Taylor
⚽️ Score Prediction: Wigan Athletic 2 - 0 Peterborough United
Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
🙌 Thank you for reading!
✍🏼 Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
📲 Follow the X account! (www.x.com/CentralWigan)
☕️ Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/centralwigan
