Posh travel to Oxford United in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
Peterborough United make the first of two trips to the Kassam Stadium in four days on Saturday as Darren Ferguson’s men face Oxford United in Sky Bet League One action (3pm) trying to bounce back from the opening day defeat to Fleetwood Town.
The two sides will meet again on Tuesday night in the first round of the Carabao Cup, but the Posh boss refused to look any further than this weekend’s clash in the league and a first trip on the road for his charges.
A 3-1 loss to Fleetwood was a disappointing reverse while Oxford had a tinge of disappointment too as they came away from the Stadium of Light with just a point from a 1-1 draw in a game that on another day could have yielded all three points.
In fact, when you look at the U’s recruitment during the close season you can see why they are being tipped as potential play-off contenders. Although they lost attacking midfielder Gavin Whyte and Marcus Browne, they have brought in highly-rated Liverpool starlet Ben Woodburn and Charlton Athletic youngster Tarique Fosu.
TEAM NEWS
Posh are likely to include on-loan Leicester City youngster Josh Knight in their squad. He was not included last weekend as he only completed the deal on the Friday at the Mick George Training Academy. There are no injury worries for manager Darren Ferguson to contend with and a number of players who didn’t feature last week participated in a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United in a friendly fixture at the training ground this week.
Oxford have been trying to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the clash with Posh with the transfer window in League One and League Two not closing until the beginning of September.
MANAGER QUOTES
“Oxford ended last season really strongly. They lost a couple of players during the summer, but they have recruited really well during the close season and brought in some really talented players. It is a big pitch at Oxford, so I expect it to be an open encounter. Myself and Karl Robinson have come up against each other a lot down the years, probably more against him than any other boss and they are always good games,” Ferguson said.
FROM THE OPPOSITION
“We’ve got a steeliness which I like and there’s a lot more to come. We’re in a big week and then we’ve got Peterborough and then it’s Blackpool, who are having a right go as well,” Oxford boss Karl Robinson said.
TICKET NEWS
At 2.30pm on Thursday, 461 tickets had been sold in advance for the game at the Kassam Stadium. Tickets will remain on sale at the Weston Homes Stadium Box Office until 2pm on Friday and at www.theposhtickets.com. Fans are able to pay on the day.
MATCH DAY PROGRAMME
As like last year, Oxford produce a programme that includes a section on the opposition with Darren Ferguson penning some short notes to thank the fans for their support.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The match referee is Ollie Yates