Peterborough United - a look ahead

Form (last six): L-W-L-D-W-D

2002/03 Finish: Second Division – 11^th

FA Cup – First round

League Cup – First round

Top Scorer [league only]: Andy Clarke - 19

Discipline: 70 yellow, 4 red

Barry Fry - one of the more animated managers of his generation

A game that over the last few seasons has seen County come away with quite a diverse range of fortunes, so to be honest it’s anybody guess how the result will turn out. However, one thing is for certain - Monday’s fixture, apart from Chesterfield, is going to be the closest thing Notts will have to a local derby after seeing local rivals, Mansfield Town, relegated following their one season rise to Division Two.

The last time the two sides met at Meadow Lane, the Posh cruised into a comfortable two-nil lead shortly after the break scoring, either side of half time - Bradley Allen and Simon Rea both on target for posh. But Mark Stallard and Marcel Cas [now with Grimsby Town] both found the target for the Magpies as they had managed to snatch a point from the jaws of victory.

Barry Fry’s side were undone by a Shefki Kuqi header on the stroke of half time as they slipped up 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday in front of a 10,000 strong crowd at London Road. The game saw Posh go seventeenth following home defeats against the Owls and newly promoted Hartlepool United, their points came in a 3-0 victory on the road to Brentford last Saturday.

Ryan Semple

Following the abolishing of Peterborough’s youth system three years ago, the Posh have had very few emerging young players, however, one youngster worth a mention is young midfielder, Ryan Semple. The 18 year old winger and former Manchester United trainee signed his first professional contract with the London Road side little over a year ago and since then the 5”11 attacking midfielder has only made one start for Peterborough, whilst his first team stints have been somewhat limited the midfielder is greatly respected by the London Road faithful and see mounts of potential in the former Manchester United trainee.

Former Notts wing back, Andy Legg, returns to Meadow Lane after becoming Barry Fry’s only signing in the close season following his release from Cardiff City after helping them to play-off success during the 2002/03 season. The long throw specialist signed a one year deal with Posh as a player-coach.

***STAR PLAYER*** -Andy Clarke

Andy Clarke's pace will prove a handful

The former Wimbledon striker scored an impressive 16 league goals last season including a penalty against Notts towards the end of last season in a 1-0 victory at London Road. But perhaps his most memorable of the 02/03 season was that cheeky nod home against Brentford after rounding the Brentford keeper.

However, the Posh fans will remember his greatest moment in Peterborough colours when he scored the winning goal in the 1999/2000 third division playoffs – a goal which clinched promotion to the Second Division.