Posh utility player Charlie Lee spoke to the Peterborough Evening Telegraph ahead of his side's League One game against Carlisle at London Road tomorrow, Lee saying the Posh are full of confidence at the moment :
“We feel like we are going to win every game at the moment. We are full of confidence and enjoying our football. The dressing room was the happiest I’ve seen it this season after the win at Notts County. It wasn’t the prettiest of matches, but it was a massive win all the same because we showed again that we can dig in and get results. The lads at the back have been brilliant in recent weeks and if we don’t concede goals we are going to win matches.
“I’ve not scored as many goals as I would have liked this season, but then I’ve not played as many games as I would have liked. Gary Johnson thought the team would be better without me and that I would be better off going out on loan to Gillingham. I’m glad I did at the time, but it’s great to be back in the side. I’m sorry that Gary left, but I’m happy that Darren Ferguson came back because we know we can be successful under him again. The mood now is like it was two years ago when we won promotion from this division. We won’t be complacent, but we are confident we can reach the top two.”
While former Grimsby Town centre-half Ryan Bennett extolled the virtues of his defensive partner Gaby Zakuani to the Telegraph :
"Gaby is a great player to play alongside. Everyone knows what you are going to get from him and that’s tackles, headers and blocks. If a ball is there to be won he will go and win it. I’m sure opposition strikers hate playing against him because he goes for everything and rarely loses out. Gaby is also quicker than he looks. He’s rarely outpaced and I know that if I do get caught out he will be there covering for me.
“We’ve been getting on really well together and it’s been a great feeling for us that we’ve been helping the side win by keeping clean sheets. Everyone is aware of the difficulties we had earlier in the season so it’s good to be able to stop the opposition scoring on a regular basis. But me and Gaby know that if our standards slip Kelvin Langmead is waiting to step in. I was substitute for a few matches earlier in the season so I know how Kelvin is feeling now, but he is a quality defender and I’m sure he will get back into the side before too long.
“Kelvin has played more games than me and Gaby and he has done well so the fact that he is waiting for his chance will keep us on our toes. I played a few games in the Championship, but I feel I’m showing the best form of my time here now. I wasn’t ever bothered about the size of the transfer fee (£500,000) though. I don’t even know what it was, I only know what I saw in the paper. I’ve had injuries, but I’m over them now and I’m enjoying being part of a successful side.”
In team news for Peterborough tomorrow they are missing two players through injury, firstly striker Dave Hibbert has been out since mid-November after suffering a dislocated knee in a 4-1 FA Cup replay victory at home to Stockport in mid-November, then secondly winger Lee Frecklington is sidelined until at least the end of March after recently undergoing a hernia operation.
Finally, one player who has come into the club recently, in out of contract striker Paul Taylor, is still working his way towards match fitness, while a trio of Posh men have left London Road since the start of March. Youngster Nathan Koranteng signing for Blue Square Bet South side Woking on a permanent basis, with Steve Collis and Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi both joining League Two outfit Northampton Town on loan.
The referee for tomorrow afternoon's match is Trevor Kettle from Whissendine in Rutland and he will be assisted down the lines by Tony Mason from Sidcup in Kent and Army Sergeant Declan Ford who is attached to the Leicestershire FA. Meanwhile the fourth official is Chris Knowles from Northampton.