v 
BLUES
Blues boss Steve Tilson will look to bring in a new striker on loan as injuries continue to affect his starting eleven.
With no other injuries reported the team for Saturday's trip to Peterborough should be the same that started the 2-0 win against Scunthorpe with the obvious absence of Francis Laurent.
Dougie Freedman has not made the progress hoped while Lee Barnard is liable to drop out at the smallest touch!
So, according to the Echo, he is in talks with a proven front-runner who is currently out a favour at a Championship club.
Tilly confirmed this with the paper: "It seems every striker we have at the moment keeps on getting injured, so we're looking to bring in someone else on loan. We've spoken to the club in question and, if everything is feasible, then hopefully we can sort it all out before tomorrow's game."
The Blues other strikers, Alex Revell (broken leg) and James Walker (hamstring), also continue to be unavailable, but Tilly is obviously keen to maintain his side's recent momentum that has seen them win four of their last five games.
He continued: "Our results have been improving and I think we need another three wins to make us safe from relegation. We want to get them as quickly as we can and then we will have another look at things then."
However, the weekend brings their toughest test in this run as a win for Posh could see them go into the top two.
Assistant boss Paul Brush confirmed this to BBC Essex: "There's no harder place to go in this division than Peterborough - they score a lot of goals so it's a very tough place to go and put in a very solid defensive job. We'd like to feel our players come to the fore and are at their best when they play against the bigger sides and this is definitely one of those occasions."
OPPOSITION
Lee Frecklington misses out for Peterborough with a pulled hamstring.
Shane Blackett stands by to replace Gabriel Zakuani, who is doubtful after landing awkwardly last Tuesday, and Tom Williams may return to the bench after a lay-off.
2 Milton Keynes Dons 31 9 1 5 27 15 10 3 3 35 19 19 4 8 62 34 61 +28 3 Peterborough United 33 10 4 2 31 16 7 5 5 28 26 17 9 7 59 42 60 +17 4 Millwall 31 9 4 3 20 14 7 3 5 23 21 16 7 8 43 35 55 +8 5 Oldham Athletic 33 9 6 2 31 16 5 6 5 20 25 14 12 7 51 41 54 +10
Match report and player ratings edited from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph;
REFEREE: Graham Scott (Oxford) 7 ATTENDANCE: 5,103 (267 Carlisle).
Yellow cards: Posh - Chester (foul).
It wasn't just Mclean scoring his fifth goal in five games - and his second match-winning strike in succession - it was his all-round display that impressed the sponsors, the Posh fans and his manager.
Darren Ferguson, who almost turned into Barry Fry by jigging down the touchline in delight when Mclean struck in the 69th minute of a nervy Posh performance, clearly recognises the worth of the team's emotional leader on and off the field.
"Aaron's been outstanding in recent weeks," Ferguson enthused. "He's not just a top player on the pitch, he's superb in the dressing room and on the training ground. He's a great bloke to have around the place full stop."
Mclean is driven by a deep desire to play in the Championship. He felt he had a chance last summer when Wolves came knocking on the door, but he's shrugged off that setback to turn in another outstanding personal season and Posh are starting to reap the rewards.
Now is the time of the season when the big guns must fire and, while the other high profile stars George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith had relative off-nights, Mclean stepped up to the plate to clinch the win that must have the hated MK Dons looking nervously over their shoulder.
Posh were ordinary for much of this contest against a lively and committed Carlisle side, but Charlie Lee's excellent ball to Chris Whelpdale 21 minutes from time was controlled in an instant by the substitute who crashed a shot into the legs of visiting keeper Ben Williams.
But there was Mclean steaming in to convert the rebound and seal a win that was just about deserved, especially as Posh had to overcome the loss of two players to injury before half-time.
The concern over Gaby Zakuani, after an awkward fall in the ninth minute, ensured nine minutes of injury time in the first half, while midfielder Lee Frecklington later limped out of the action with hamstring trouble.
Zakuani's departure - and thankfully the early diagnosis wasn't too bad - did enable Shane Blackett to taste first-team action for the first time in four months, ironically against the same opposition he last faced, and he did well enough against a decent strike force in Danny Graham and Joe Anyinsah.
Perhaps understandably given the level of disruption Posh laboured for most of the first half. Ferguson even abandoned his 4-3-3 formation before Frecklington's withdrawal as Carlisle's positive approach took him by surprise.
The high line drawn by the visiting defence forced Ferguson to move the speedy Mackail-Smith back alongside Mclean, but it took a while to take a positive effect.
Mackail-Smith sent one header over the bar, while Paul Coutts twice shot reasonably accurately from distance, but Carlisle fluffed the best opportunity before the break when Graham met Lewis Neal's free-kick six yards out only to see Joe Lewis make a fine instinctive save.
Carlisle hammered plenty of long balls after the interval and failed to seriously worry Lewis once Graham's sizzler had flashed past a post from the edge of the area.
Gradually Posh got on top with Mackail-Smith missing a sitter with his head from Boyd's quality cross before Mclean struck.
Whelpdale and Mackail-Smith were thwarted by Williams in the closing stages as Posh saw out the game in some comfort.
Winning when not at your best is a great skill of promotion-winning sides and Posh have managed it twice in succession now.
Clean sheets may be the key now as with the likes of Mclean around there will usually be a goal at the other end.
The ratings
Joe Lewis 7
Made a crucial stop in first-half injury time. Handled the low shots perfectly
Russell Martin 5
Looked hesitant and nervy
Gaby Zakuani 6
Crashed out of the game early on
James Chester 6
Didn't pass the ball as well as he can, defended adequately
Charlie Lee 7
Great ping helped create the opening goal, on a good run of form
Lee Frecklington 6
Had little influence on game before limping off before half-time
Paul Coutts 6
A mixed bag of strong runs and erratic passing
Dean Keates 7
Holding the midfield together with his tackling and positional sense
George Boyd 5
Far from his own high standards, still created golden opportunity with quality cross
Craig Mackail-Smith 6
Doesn't look happy out wide, missed opportunities when moved inside
Aaron Mclean 8 (Star man)
Always lively, good finish, excellent work-rate, on top of his game
Substitutes
Shane Blackett: (for Zakuani, 17 mins): Very sound job against decent strikers 7
Chris Whelpdale: (for Frecklington, 45 mins): Big part in goal, almost scored later on 7
Not used: Ben Wright, Sergio Torres, Dominic Green.
PREVIOUSLY
Fairly even between the sides until the double 1-0 season for Posh of 1999/2000. We did get a game back on the opening day of this season, yet another 1-0, Peter Clarke volleying home from a corner to give Blues the three points.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GROUND
On one side of the ground is the Norwich & Peterborough South Stand, which was opened in 1996 and replaced a former open terrace. Encased in supporting tubular steelwork, the 5,000 capacity stand is an impressive sight. The two tiered stand, is covered and all seated. There is also a row of executive boxes running across its middle. The other side, the Main Stand, is a two tiered covered stand that is all seated.
Both ends are covered terracing that look almost identical. They were given white roofs a couple of seasons back, in an effort to brighten up their appearance. However they both have a number of supporting pillars at the front of them, which could impede your view of the game. They do though give some charm to London Road, as these types of terraces are quickly disappearing from the football landscape in this country. Interestingly, there is an open air gap at the back of these terraces between the roof and the back supporting wall, which must mean that they can get a bit draughty in winter.
In one corner of the ground between the South Stand and the London Road Terrace, is a Police Control Box. On either side of the Main Stand are two tall, old fashioned looking floodlights. The ground had a set of four at one time, but two were taken down when the new South Stand was built.
Just under 4,000 away fans can be accommodated in the Moyes Terrace, with a further 800 seats being made available to away fans in the Main (North) Stand. If however, only a small away following is expected, then the terrace is kept closed and away supporters are housed just in the Block A seats of the Main Stand. The Moyes Terrace has several supporting pillars, which may obstruct your view, but the acoustics of the covered terrace are good, lending to a good atmosphere.
WEATHER
Grey cloud but 10c's.
REF
The man in the middle is Andy Haines from Tyne & Wear.
FIXTURES
Monday, 02 March 2009: Oldham v Leeds, 19:45.
Tuesday, 03 March 2009; (all 19.45 kick-offs): Bristol Rovers v Brighton, Crewe v Carlisle, Hartlepool v Tranmere, Huddersfield v Colchester, Leicester v Stockport, Leyton Orient v Peterborough, Northampton v MK Dons, Scunthorpe v Walsall, Southend v Millwall, Swindon v Cheltenham, Yeovil v Hereford.
BET
Peterborough (4/6) Draw (11/4) Southend (5)
Blues at 5's must be worth a punt, Posh 6/4 for promotion.
All the maps and info you need to get to London Road, Last Call to Peterborough here:
PUB AND PIES
For a selection of the best pubs and to get a decent bite to eat go to Last Orders in Peterborough here:
Opinion is split as to who Peterborough United's main local rivals are. Older fans tend to point to Northampton Town, a rivalry which has endured since the 1960s. However, the majority of fans consider Cambridge United to be the club's main foes — this game is known as the Cambridgeshire derby. ("There is only one team in Cambridgeshire", try singing that!)
MK Dons are now also considered a new rival for Peterborough, due to both teams promotion battle last season. This looks set to continue into the new season as both look to impress in League One.
Peterborough's greatest ever player is arguably Terry Bly. He scored 52 goals in the club's first season as a Football League club, as they sealed the Fourth Division championship.
The club also had a proud tradition of producing successful young players, those to have recently come through the youth academy have included Simon Davies (now at Fulham), Matthew Etherington (now at West Ham United) and Adam Drury (now at Norwich City).
The Posh were elected to The Football League for the beginning of the 1960-61 season, joining and winning Division Four. They played in Football League Division One between 1992 and 1994 and they finished 10th, the best position of them, in 1992-93 season.
During the 2005-06 season the club had three managers: team owner Barry 'Fat Boy' Fry returned to management following former England international Mark Wright's sacking in January. Wright's assistant Steve Bleasdal was then appointed acting manager, but resigned in April. Keith Alexander joined as manager from Lincoln City for the 2006-07 season.
On September 18, 2006 Peterborough United announced the "biggest signing in the club's history", new chairman Darragh MacAnthony chairman of MRI Overseas Property. MacAnthony has purchased 200 shares in PUFC and has stated that his goal is to become the sole owner of the Club. As of yet, no more details have been announced. In its AGM of 05/09/2006 the Posh Supporters' Trust stated that it owned 1390 shares in PUFC. The deal was delayed as of November 2006 when the owners of the Ground Peterborough United Holdings Ltd (PUHL) refused to accept the sale until they receive planning permission their proposed development of the Moyes End Terrace and building of 135 Luxury flats. Despite this MacAnthony has said he will not walk away from the club.
With the prospect of rich new ownership a £1m bid for striker Izale McLeod was rejected by his club, MK Dons. They have since signed George Boyd from Stevenage for a reported fee of around £260,000, Aaron McLean from Grays Athletic for a figure expected to be around £150,000 and Josh Low from Leicester for a fee rising to £100,000.
They have also signed 32 year old central midfielder Micah Hyde for £75,000 (raising to £100,000 if Peterborough get promotion) from Burnley and goalkeeper Shwan Jalal from Woking for an undisclosed fee to continue their bid spending.
While Alexander had some success in the role, leading the club to its best-ever start to a season and keeping them in the play-off positions for most of the 2006-07 season, he was nonetheless sacked in January due to a run of six defeats in a row, and his long-ball tactics met with disapproval among fans even when the club was near the top of the table. After a brief caretaker spell by Tommy Taylor, Darren Ferguson was installed as player-manager.
Ferguson had a good start to his managerial career, and was unlucky to only gain 1 point from his first 3 games after some good performances. Ironically, the first win in his managerial career was against his former club, Wrexham.
Ferguson appointed Kevin Russell as his assistant, and Ben MacKenzie as fitness coach.
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has proposed a 15,000 all seater stadium to replace the current London Road stadium which has a capacity of 15,314.
On the 19 April 2008, Peterborough were promoted to the Coca-Cola Football League 1 after Dean Keates header secured a 1-0 victory against Hereford United.
On Friday 18 January 2008 it was announced that Peterborough United will enter in to a 3-year sponsorship deal with Adidas to supply new kit from the season beginning 2008-09.
(Many thanks to the usual suspects for all their help with this article.)