Probably the world's best preview

Last updated : 06 December 2005 By Rob Davies
It was almost two years ago that the Magpies last made the journey to London Road, but it was one that few will forget.

A terrible performance saw Notts smashed 5-2 by their fellow strugglers, with then-manager Billy Dearden infamously announcing his resignation BEFORE kick-off.

Paul Riley - now at Matlock Town - scored both goals for the visitors that night, but the performance was memorably bad, even in a season that saw the Magpies eventually relegated.

Riley: Two goals
For those who travel tonight, that defeat - that ironically also came in mid-week - will not be far away from the thoughts of the County faithful.

With Notts' form being as it is, you wouldn't bet against a similar scoreline this time around. That said, such is the erratic nature of Gudjon Thordarson's team, it would also be hard to shy away from a Notts County victory.

After ending a 10-game winless streak at Bury five weeks ago, Thordarson's team can't seem to form any consistency, whether good or bad.

The Magpies followed their win at Gigg Lane with a comfortable FA Cup success at Bristol City, but a shocking performance in the home loss to Cheltenham swiftly put an end to any positive thoughts creeping into the heads of the Notts supporters.

The double-header against Torquay saw a good display on home soil ruined by poor finishing and even worse defending, while the less said about last weekend's trip to Plainmoor the better.

These two games coming after a workmanlike victory over Boston Utd, a team that had previously been unbeaten on home soil.

It's a recent record that's enough to confuse any County supporter, and make tonight's mid-table battle against Peterborough a hard one to predict.

Posh are 12th in League Two, just one place and two points below the Magpies.

No longer managed by Barry Fry - who instead takes up the role of Director of Football - Mark Wright's team have been bugged by the same inconsistencies that have plagued County, though they have not lost at London Road since September, with that defeat against Shrewsbury their only one at home all season.

A squad hotly-tipped for promotion, Wright's side have struggled under the weight of expectation, with experienced striker Trevor Benjamin a prime example.

Eyebrows were raised when Benjamin turned down Championship Coventry City to join the Posh, but the 26-year-old has managed just one goal in the league all season.

Baudet: Fitness doubt
Fellow-striker James Quinn has been allowed to join Bristol City on-loan, while David Farrell - the chief tormentor of the Magpies the last time the two side's met - is out with a shoulder injury.

Once-branded as the 'Notts County reserves', Posh now just have two former Magpies in their squad - those being left-sider Peter Kennedy and former loanee Adam Newton.

Defender Sean St. Ledger is highly-rated, while Sagi Burton - a man whose theatrics got Paul Heffernan sent-off the last time the two teams met at Meadow Lane - remains at London Road.

Thordarson is still without striker Steve Scoffham with a broken cheekbone, but also has doubts over Andy White, Julien Baudet and Rob Ullathorne.

White is still struggling with the ankle injury that kept him out of Saturday's trip to Torquay, while Baudet and Ullathorne both picked up knocks in the cup-tie.

Liam Needham could come into contention after signing on non-contract terms almost two weeks ago, while Emmet Friars should return to the squad after being cup-tied at the weekend.

Thordarson opted for a diamond formation at Plainmoor, but could revert back to the 3-5-2 system he has favoured in recent weeks, or even a flat 4-4-2.

Adam Tann returns from his one-match ban.

Notts (possible): Pilkington; O'Callaghan, Baudet, Wilson; Tann, Pipe, Edwards, McMahon, Ullathorne; Hurst, DeBolla.

Subs (from): Marshall, Friars, Martin, Gill, Palmer, Needham, Sheridan, Long, White, Gordon, Williams.