That's Man. U out of the way, now for Southend. Bring it on!

Last updated : 05 August 2008 By Shrimpers24
(Article and report from Alan Swann, Chief Sports Reporter of the Peterborough Evening Telegraph, Tuesday August 5, 2008)

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson and his players can't wait for the League One action to start.

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The dangerous Aaron Mclean, played in the first half and fully fit to take on Clarkey

Posh completed their pre-season programme with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of European champions Manchester United at London Road last night, the Premier League side managed by Darren's father, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. United fielded a powerful side and paraded the European Champions League and Premier League trophies before the match.

The father and son enjoyed the night, but Ferguson junior has now switched all his attentions to the League One opener at Southend on Saturday, although he did admit he has taken some advice on board from his father.

Ferguson said: "I only spoke briefly to dad after the game, but we'll speak at greater length today. He did give me one or two pointers though which were helpful. It was an enjoyable night for us both. I was certainly much more relaxed than when we played against each other last season. It was a great night for the players and the supporters as dad did me proud with the team he sent down and I was pleased with the way we played, especially in the first half.

He continued; "But I'm happy that it's out of the way. It's been a good pre-season for us, but me and the players can't wait for Saturday now. The vast majority of the squad are fit and well and I have some thinking to do about selection before the weekend."

New winger Sergio Torres played 45 minutes last night and could be in contention for a starting place, but first-choice left-back Jamie Day managed just the final quarter of the game. (We'll evens on that score then!)

A Russell Martin own goal and a thunderbolt from substitute Darron Gibson won the game for United.

Ferguson admitted after the match that midfielder Gibson was the Premier League player Posh had been tracking with a view to taking on a season-long loan.

Ferguson added: "We did fancy Darron, but he wanted to stay at United for pre-season which is fair enough. I deliberately didn't ask my dad for players when I first came here, but I'm happy to do it now for the right one. But I won't be going back for Darron before the end of the August transfer window."

George Boyd, Peterborough United

Star winger George Boyd was left on the subs bench but came out for the second half, but who is going to mark him for the Blues on Saturday?

Peterborough United 0 Manchester United 2


ONE day the son might come out on top against his father, but for the moment Sir Alex remains very firmly at the head of the Ferguson family.

A surprisingly competitive friendly fixture was eventually won at canter by dad's thoroughbreds, although not before Posh had given more evidence that they too have a talented Ferguson at the helm.

Even given his natural competitiveness, Darren Ferguson was probably more pleased that his side suffered no injury worries ahead of the impending League One season than he was disappointed with the 2-0 reverse.

But he also saw enough in bursts to be confident of another exciting campaign. Posh pushed United all the way and this was far from the Red Devils team of unknowns that fulfilled this fixture last summer.

Fergie senior did Posh the honour of selecting a strong side, in the first half at least. There was no Rooney, Scholes or Giggs, but there was Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez, all of whom oozed class, and a set of Brazilian twins who both played with gay abandon in full-back roles.

Posh decided to take it easy on United by fielding a far from full strength side. Even star winger George Boyd was left on the substitutes' bench, possibly because Posh feared Sir Alex Ferguson may be sizing him up as a replacement for Ronaldo, or more likely because Southend away in five days is a more important fixture.

But for all the talent on show, it took a comedy own goal to give United the lead. Russell Martin probably dreamt of scoring at London Road in front of a full house, but not with a heavy chest into his own net.

Right-back Rafael Da Silva, one of those twins, supplied the 39th minute right wing cross, although to be fair Joe Lewis probably should have saved Martin's embarrassment.

The goal arrived just after Aaron Mclean had missed an absolute sitter after United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak had spilled a strong shot from Shane Blackett. Blackett, who played at left-back, was Posh's outstanding performer in the first half and will surely challenge Tom Williams for that role if Jamie Day is not ready at the weekend.

Posh had started brightly securing a succession of early corners, but there were few clear-cut chances at either end until that late flurry of action.

Chris Whelpdale and Craig Morgan sent headers straight at Kuszczak and the former could also only poke a half chance straight at the United keeper.

Tevez was brilliant on occasions showing pace that belied his stocky frame and trickery that confirmed his Argentine origins. Posh's own South American Sergio Torres was quiet by comparison, even though that comparison is grossly unfair.

Posh made nine substitutions at half-time and United took off five of their bigger names.

Clearly Posh had greater strength in depth on this night as Craig Mackail-Smith twice came close to scoring, on the second occasion it took a brilliant point-blank save from Kuszczak to deny him.

Boyd showed the odd glimpse of why Fergie senior is now apparently a fan, but it was United who struck again in brilliant fashion.

Darron Gibson had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes when he unleashed a blistering shot into the top corner from 25 yards to confirm in an instant why Posh had pursued the midfielder all season.

The match rather petered out as a contest from there, although Liam Hatch with a towering header, and Tom Cleverley, an intelligent player for sure, with a fierce shot came close at either end.

United may have been motivated by a local band playing a song with 'Chelsea' in the lyrics. If only someone had written a song about Cambridge, Posh might also have been inspired.


Teams and match stats:
Referee: Kevin Wright (Peterborough).
Assistant referees: Dave Bryan (Stamford), Paul Barnes (Peterborough)
Goals: United - R. Martin (og, 39 mins), Gibson (69 mins).
Attendance: 13,042

Teams - Posh: (first half)
Joe Lewis
Russell Martin
Shane Blackett
Craig Morgan
Chris Westwood
Micah Hyde
Paul Coutts
Chris Whelpdale
Sergio Torres
Aaron Mclean
Scott Rendell

Posh: (second half)
Mark Tyler
Chris Whelpdale (sub Williams, 75 mins)
Craig Morgan
Kieran Charnock
Shane Blackett (sub, Jamie Day, 57 mins)
Charlie Lee
Dean Keates
Shaun Batt
George Boyd
Craig Mackail-Smith
Liam Hatch

Manchester United
Tomasz Kuszczak (Zieler, 66 mins)
John O'Shea
Patrice Evra (sub Jonny Evans, 46 mins)
Rio Ferdinand (sub Craig Cathcart, 46 mins)
Wes Brown (Sub Fabio da Silva, 46 mins)
Darren Fletcher (sub Darron Gibson, 67 mins)
David Gray
Nani (sub Possebon, 57 mins)
Rafael Da Silva
Carlos Tevez (sub Lee Martin, 46 mins)
Fraizer Campbell (sub Tom Cleverley, 46 mins)