Ferguson 'embarrassed' by Posh's first-half display
Darren Ferguson has been back in charge of Peterborough United since 2023
- Published
Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson said the club faces a "big job" to improve his squad before the end of the transfer window.
Posh have brought in eight players after last season's struggles to maintain their League One status, but have lost the likes of Kwame Poku, Hector Kyprianou, Ricky-Jade Jones and Malik Mothersille.
And following defeats in their first two league games of the new campaign, they were beaten 2-1 at Accrington Stanley in the first round of the Carabao Cup after conceding the opening goal in the first minute.
"We want to play like we did in the second half, but by then it was too late. I was embarrassed by the first half - and they [the players] should be," Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
"There's certain things you need to do when you play for Peterborough, certainly in my teams, and that was really missing in the first half. It took us until we were 2-0 down to wake up - we're not that good.
"We're a little bit short in certain areas and me and chairman have got a big job about what we do next."
Ferguson is in his fourth spell as Posh boss and led the team to four promotions in the past, as well as winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley in the past two seasons.
He last week decided that Chris Conn-Clarke and Ryan de Havilland should train with the under-21 squad, the pair having made a combined 65 first-team appearances last season.
And there are four or five players for whom Posh are willing to listen to offers.
"I've got decisions to make on players. I've given some the benefit of the doubt, especially those that have only had a season [with us]. I needed to see how pre-season went," he said.
"When I don't see improvement, then I've got to make decisions - but they're not the only two that are available. The problem we're having is getting them out."
Peterborough are away to Wigan Athletic on Saturday, with a home game against Barnsley to follow on Tuesday evening.
"There's a lot to ponder on what I need to see out of my team for 90 minutes," Ferguson added.
"It's on them, that one [against Accrington], they've got to take responsibility. I don't say that often, as a manager I always take responsibility as should be, but that first half was so far away from what we expect to see."