Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson always felt Blackpool would come on strong in the latter stages of the season

The Seasiders take on Ferguson’s high-flying side at Bloomfield Road tonight knowing a win will take them into the play-offs for the first time this term.

It would represent a remarkable turnaround for Neil Critchley’s side, who suffered six defeats in their opening nine games this season after a summer of major upheaval, bringing in 17 new faces and moving on a further 21.

“It takes time, but he’s had a good schooling at Liverpool,” Ferguson said ahead of tonight’s game.

“I don’t know him personally, but he’s got a reputation for being a good coach. He’s appointed a very experienced man in Colin Calderwood.

“For me, when I looked at the start of the season, they signed that many players I always felt it would be the latter part of the season where they would kick on and do well.

“They’ve been a team that have been on a couple of good runs and they’re on one at the moment, so it’s important we try and break that.

“It’s an important game for them as it is for us as they’re right on the cusp of the play-offs and it’s one of their games in hand, as it is ours.

“It’s an important game, but they’re all big games at the business end of the season. We just have to make sure we get a performance out of the players and, most importantly of all, get a result.”

Posh, who were beaten 2-1 by Pool at London Road earlier in the season, can go level on points with leaders Hull City with a victory.

Ferguson’s outfit were frustrated to draw 3-3 with lowly Rochdale on Saturday, having previously led 2-0.

In the end, Posh were reliant on a stoppage-time penalty from 24-goal striker Jonson Clarke-Harris to rescue them a point.

“We think it was two points dropped against Rochdale at the weekend, but we have to put it to bed now and focus on a big game on Tuesday night,” Ferguson added.

“We were in the dressing room for quite a while on Saturday and the things that were said have been put to bed in terms of not having to bring them up again. It won’t be productive bringing it up again, the players know my feelings and where I stood.

“We now have to move onto the next one very quickly.

“We’ve got 11 games to go and we know where we stand in the league. We’ve been very good and now we just have to finish it off.

“We take each game in isolation. We want three points against Blackpool and then we’ll move onto the next one.

“They’re a good team, they showed that against us in the game at our place, albeit it was a long time ago.

“They’re on a good run, they’ve won their last four away games and drawn their last four home games, they’ve only conceded five goals in 12 games, so they’re well-organised.

“No matter what stage of the season it is or how teams are doing in terms of league standings, Blackpool away is always a tough game and this won’t be any different.

“We have to be positive and take the game to them and make sure we get everything out of their players.”

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