Preview: Peterborough United (H) – Pre-season Friendly

Darren Currie’s side will be looking to keep up the momentum following Tuesday night’s 6-2 thrashing over Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.

The Eagles struck first through David Boateng before Connor Wickham put them two-up with only ten minutes on the clock.

However, the Bees clawed their way back into the game when Mohamed Bettamer found the net from the spot on 40 minutes.

Jack Barham equalised just moments later as both sides returned to the changing rooms level pegging at half-time.

Barnet then ran riot in the second period, netting four more goals, starting with a brace from David Tutonda.

Simeon Akinola was the next Bee to write his name on the scoresheet before a trialist rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

A Look at the Opposition:

Last season saw Peterborough finish in their highest position since their first year back in League One, clinching seventh spot, one point off the play-offs.

Since relegation from the Championship in 2013, Posh have struggled to climb back up the ladder. After reaching the play-offs in their first season back in League One, they would go on to finish outside the top six in their next six seasons.

They’ll be hoping for a different outcome next time around and the League One side have already welcomed nine new faces this summer in order to battle for promotion again.

Most recently, Posh welcomed back a familiar face, re-signing George Boyd who is likely to make his second debut for the club this afternoon. Other summer arrivals include Mo Eisa from Bristol City and Colchester United’s Frankie Kent.

Peterborough’s pre-season schedule kick-started with a 2-0 victory over St Mirren at the start of the month before comfortably beating Stamford 6-0 four days later. They edged past Kettering Town with a 2-1 victory three days ahead of their goalless draw with Stevenage in their last outing.

Manager: Darren Ferguson

Darren Ferguson, son of Manchester United legend Sir Alex, became Peterborough boss back in January, embarking on a third spell as Posh boss.

The 47-year-old began his managerial career at Peterborough in 2007, initially taking up a player-manager role before going on to take the reins permanently.

Joining mid-way through the 2006-07 season where his side would finish 10^th in League Two, Ferguson guided Posh to promotion to the third division the following year.

Success bred success as he would then go on to lead Posh to back-to-back promotions after finishing second in League One the season after.

However, during the 2009-10 season, Ferguson stepped down from his post with his side struggling at the bottom of the Championship.

He then took charge of Preston North End in January 2010, during the season Posh faced relegation, but faced the chop just under a year later.

Ferguson then returned to the Peterborough hot seat in 2011 and it wasn’t long before he would taste promotion once more, taking Posh back to the Championship at the first attempt.

He stayed on as boss for another three-and-a-half seasons where in that time, his side would face relegation back to League One in 2013.

Since then, Peterborough have stayed in the third tier. However, he did leave his second spell with silverware under his belt after winning the EFL Trophy in 2014.

After leaving the following year, Ferguson returned to management, this time taking charge at Doncaster Rovers in a spell which lasted just under three years.

In that time, Rovers faced relegation from League One before bouncing back the following season after clinching third place.

Just months after handing in his resignation at Doncaster in June 2018, Ferguson was back at Peterborough for a third time, taking over from Steve Evans.

As a player, he began his career at Manchester United, playing under his father for four years. He was also part of the United side that won the Premier League in 1993.

Spells at Wolves and Sparta Rotterdam followed before he spent eight years at Wrexham where he made over 300 appearances and won the EFL Trophy in 2005.

Ferguson went on to hang up his boots in 2008 to take on the Peterborough manager role full-time.

Last Time Out:

Memories only have to be cast back to August 2017 to recall the last time the Bees faced Posh.

Rossi Eames’ side travelled to Peterborough in the opening round of the EFL Cup and came out on top, winning 3-1.

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro opened the scoring on 22 minutes before Gwion Edwards netted an equaliser on the half-hour mark. Soon after, Mauro Vilhete regained Barnet’s lead before Shaq Coulthirst sealed the win, netting against his former club in the second half.

Connections:

New signing Scott Loach leads a list of Bees who once wore a Peterborough shirt at some point in their career. The goalkeeper joined Posh on loan from Rotherham United in 2015 but only made five appearances for the club.

Ricardo Santos joined Peterborough a year before Loach and went on to play for Posh for two years, making over 70 appearances before joining Barnet in 2016.

The Bees also signed Coulthirst from Peterborough in 2017. The striker joined Posh in 2016 from Tottenham Hotspur and went on to make over 40 appearances, netting seven times.

Andre Boucaud initially joined Peterborough on loan from Reading in 2003 before penning a permanent deal a year later. Spending two more years at Posh, he was also sent out on loan to Aldershot Town during that time.

As for the opposition, forward Mathew Stevens began his senior career at Barnet in 2014 but would join Peterborough two years later. Whilst at the Bees, he became the club’s youngest ever player and goal scorer at the age of 16.

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