Darren Ferguson: Peterborough have shot at automatic promotion says boss

Darren Ferguson has been in charge of Peterborough for 592 games across his four spells as manager

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson says there's "no doubt" their excellent recent form has made them contenders for automatic promotion in League One.

Posh's 3-1 win over Stevenage on Wednesday was their fifth in a row in the league and took them four points off second place, with a game in hand.

Peterborough are at home to leaders Portsmouth in their next game on Saturday.

"I've been delighted with them," Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"I said to them a while ago - get to March.

"Get to March and stay in touch - that's the month I look at and that's pivotal."

Ferguson has seen his side beat Exeter, Northampton, Burton and Stevenage so far in a month that has them scheduled to play seven matches.

And with a maximum 15 points in the bag, Ferguson knows second-placed Derby County are now tantalisingly close.

"I knew the games we had and I felt that was the one (month) we had to really go for it and it's turned out that way," the 52-year-old said.

"Saturday takes care of itself and we need to make sure once we come back we've got the momentum to really go for it because there's no doubt we've got a chance."

Ahead of the weekend's meeting with Pompey, Ferguson says they will do their best to "enjoy" taking on the title contenders in what he called a "great game at this time of the season".

"They've been the best team so far and the manager [John Mousinho] has done a great job for his first season as a manger.

"We'll need the fans more on Saturday than we've needed them all season."

'You cannot get booked 10 times in a season'

Ferguson will be forced into a least one change for Saturday after Cyrpus midfielder Hector Kyprianou was booked for the 10th time this season against Stevenage and now faces a two-match suspension.

"I'm disappointed with his performance," Ferguson added.

"I don't know whether it was because it was the last game (before the potential two-game ban) and that had an influence on his mentality but he was way off - he knows that.

"I said to him at half-time 'you've done it now you need to stop worrying about it."

Kyprianou's yellow card was Posh's 56th of the season - the fewest in League One. They have also only had one player sent off.

"For me, you cannot get booked 10 times in a season," Ferguson said.

"We've got the best disciplinary record in the league and he's been booked 10 times. It's not good enough.

"I've got one or two options for Saturday so I'll have a think - I've got one or two more than tough decisions to make."