The Chalkboard

THE honeymoon period is definitely over for Posh caretaker boss Dave Robertson.

After replacing Darren Ferguson at the helm at London Road, he oversaw four wins in six games in March - his first full month in charge - and hauled them into contention for a place in the play-offs.

But the last of those games was a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Coventry and United have picked up just one point in two games in April, failing to find the net in the process, and they have slid down the table as a result.

Part of the problem for Robertson is that he has been lumbered with goal-shy strikers, with no Posh player into double-figures yet this season.

The tactic of lumping the ball forward from the back has failed to secure the desired response, and also irked the Posh faithful in the process.

To counter that, Robertson’s mantra was to make Peterborough tough to beat but even that has dropped off in recent weeks, and the fact that goalkeeper Ben Alnwick has been one of their standout players speaks volumes.

Robertson has stuck to a rigid 4-4-2 formation for most of his tenure but rolled the dice on Easter Monday, switching to a 3-5-2, but that failed to turn the tide as United played out a goalless draw at home to Walsall.

Likely Line-up

Swindon Advertiser:

A man in form: Michael Bostwick

Swindon Advertiser:

 

IT’S been tough going for the Posh in recent weeks and few players have stepped up to the plate in an effort to arrest their slide down the table.

An exception to that is Michael Bostwick, who has relished a new role in midfield under caretaker boss Dave Robertson.

Bostwick had been chiefly deployed in a defensive role under previous boss Darren Ferguson but has been handed a more prominent role in the United engine room.

The 26-year-old provides much-needed steel in midfield and his natural defensive instincts means he is not afraid to put himself about and do the dirty work when required, with three yellow cards in the last six games a testament to that.

The new role has also allowed Bostwick to chip in with a few more goals in recent weeks, none more valuable than the one against Chesterfield three weeks ago, as he got the only goal of the game in what is the Posh’s last victory.

The Treatment Room  

A SICKNESS big ran rife through the Peterborough camp last week, hampering Dave Robertson’s selection for the goalless draw against Walsall, but all those players affected are fit to return against Swindon on Saturday.

The Posh’s primary injury concern is to defender Jack Baldwin. He has not played since November 1 after suffering a knee problem and now looks increasingly unlikely to return to action this season.

Another long-term absentee is midfielder Jermaine Anderson, who is now entering a third month on the sidelines with a toe problem.

The only name likely to join Peterborough’s injury list is midfielder Jon Taylor, who made his comeback from a knee problem in the stalemate against Walsall on Easter Monday but is exepected to miss out again with the same issue.

Goalscorers

Conor Washington: 9

Marcus Maddison: 7

Michael Bostwick: 4

Discipline 

Joe Newell: 8Y, 1R

Marcus Maddison: 2Y, 1R

The Stat

Town have not kept a clean sheet against the Posh in their last 12 meetings.