PETERBOROUGH UTD F.C. v WATFORD F.C. Watford travel up to Peterborough for this Championship fixture. Both teams have everything to play for at differing ends of the league table. Including this fixture 5 games remain for Peterborough to secure their safety, despite currently sitting in penultimate place, things are very tight at the bottom. It looks like 2 of 6 teams could go down with Bristol City. Whilst Watford have the run-in to try to achieve an automatic promotion spot and are looking to do the double over Peterborough. Watford have got 4 points in the last two games, against the current top two in the table. So confidence must be relatively high. Zola praised the team after the stalemate with Cardiff. He said, “I liked the maturity in the team today, it was important not to lose the game. If you can’t win, it is important you don’t lose. We have to maintain this attitude now.” However, Peterborough are unbeaten in eight games! Midfielder Tomlin commented that "A team like ours wants to play football, so it was difficult because you don't want to make mistakes, but you don't want to take the easy route and just start booting it up the field...We have five games left and if we remain unbeaten it will keep us up." TEAM NEWS, FROM ESPN: Jack Payne could be fit enough to be included in the Peterborough squad against Watford. Posh were dealt a blow last weekend when an ankle injury forced Payne out of the action at Huddersfield but, despite initial fears of a more severe injury, the on-loan Gillingham midfielder has been given a 50/50 chance of featuring on Saturday. Manager Darren Ferguson has options should Payne miss out. He told reporters ahead of the Hornets' visit: ``I've got others that can come in. ``We've got a lot of players who can play in midfield/attacking positions and it's something I might have to utilise on Saturday as Watford have got good footballers in the middle of the pitch, but not great physical strength so I wouldn't be overly concerned about playing someone like Danny Swanson, Joe Newell or Alex Pritchard in there. ``But you've got to get the balance and that's something that I've got to get right on Saturday.'' Michael Bostwick was expected to return after a three-match absence with a hamstring injury but the midfielder, who has been playing as a centre-half, suffered a setback in his recovery this week and will remain on the sidelines. Promotion-chasing Watford have an unchanged squad for the trip. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia made his comeback from a lengthy absence with a hamstring injury to retake his place between the posts for last weekend's goalless draw with Cardiff. Defender Matthew Briggs (knock) and midfielder Jonathan Hogg (calf) also returned to Gianfranco Zola's 18 against the Bluebirds, with all three suffering no ill-effects. Midfielder John Eustace has rejoined training after his long-term back injury but whether he features at all remains to be seen. However, defenders Fitz Hall (hamstring), Nyron Nosworthy (Achilles), Neuton (dislocated shoulder) and Tommie Hoban (ankle) all remain sidelined. The third-placed Hornets are currently just three points adrift of the automatic promotion places with 15 points left to play for. COYH COYH COYH !!! I think we all know we need the 3 points here. I think we'll get them too. COMMENTS WELCOME > ENJOY THE GAME FYI - Saturday's other Championship's fixtures: Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday Barnsley v Charlton Athletic Blackburn Rovers v Derby County Blackpool v Burnley Bristol City v Bolton Wanderers Cardiff City v Nottingham Forest Ipswich Town v Hull City Middlesbrough v Brighton & Hove Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
This game could be the proverbial banana-skin. As if my nerves were not already shot after the last two.
And now Ms Saxet wants to go to Houston for the weekend - completely messing up my Saturday morning. I should not really complain but for a recent episode.... Millwall against Blackburn in t'cup. Me on the sofa with beer and crisps. Ms Saxet arrives, looks at the screen and the 'score bug' on the top left and asks if Milan are playing. Tsk women and footy eh ?? Yes love - Milan is now in ****ty South London just for a laugh. Sorry in advance H.
Any favour from Ipswich town would be greatly appreciated. As let's face it, it is out of our hands at the moment... Also, Vydra's goal from the reverse fixture: [video=youtube;nwkjeBW0LB4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwkjeBW0LB4[/video]
Nice one Mex - 5*'s from me. Never seem to have any luck at Posh. But I have a nice feeling about this visit, so going for a 3-0 win. COYH
Norway, if you make it, give me a call. We are catching the train up and will be taking some pubs between the station and the ground - will be in that Dutch Barge bar on the river about 12.00 if you make it.
"I think we all know we need the 3 points here. I think we'll get them too." Cardiff thought the same..............
Looking forward to this one, but they're a tough team, and i hope we do our homework properly. i see us snatching a 1-3 win ...but in truth, that's going to be difficult. I do love going to Posh though, you can stand without being shouted at! Is it too much of a cliche to say this is a 'must win'?
H - We will be meeting up in the usual pub before the game as I have to give out the tickets to the 'emel boys. See you in there if you are about!
I can see this being a high scoring game, the problem is I'm not sure who'll have the highest score at the end of 90 minutes. It is a 'must win'' game for us but Posh can score goals so I hope our defence is on top form.
Posh's home record is worse than their away record - which is the only reason they are as high in the table as they are - and given that we beat them in their away fixture, I see no reason why we won't duplicate the feat on Saturday. Three points for us I reckon, especially if our defence replicates the last two clean-sheet outings.
We only beat them at our place because we got a very lucky penalty in the dying moments. If the guy hadnt tripped over his own feet and brought Daniel Pudil down in the process we would have drawn 0-0
And how many last minute goals have we conceded this season that have cost us dearly? The fact is that on that occasion we won, they lost - that can't be changed and that is all that matters.
Just seen that we have sold over 3500 tickets and none will be available on the day! - should be a great day out!
