Wembley return would be 'massive' for Peterborough

Darren Ferguson has got Peterborough promoted three times and twice won the EFL Trophy in his four spells in charge

Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson says getting the club to Wembley for a second successive season would be "massive" in the context of their difficult league campaign.

The Posh take on League Two Cheltenham in the quarter-finals of the Vertu Trophy on Wednesday, looking to take a step closer to retaining the piece of silverware they won by beating Wycombe in the final last April.

The last-eight tie gives Ferguson's side the chance to switch attention away from their struggles in League One, with Posh currently 19th and only five points clear of the relegation zone following Sunday's defeat by Bristol Rovers.

"The league is the priority - everyone knows that - but to get back to Wembley would be a massive thing in a season like this," Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

'No excuses if we don't beat Cheltenham'

Peterborough's run to Wembley last term ran alongside an impressive promotion challenge which saw the club finish fourth before losing in the semi-finals of the play-offs to Oxford United, who went on to get promoted to the Championship.

But this season in League One has been harder, with only one win in 2025 across 10 league games.

Ferguson knows a return to Wembley in the EFL Trophy could supercharge their survival chances.

"We've seen exactly what happened last season," he said. "It gives the fans a massive lift - they've had a tough season along with the rest of us.

"If we can do what I think we can and manage to stay in the league and get to Wembley, at least there is a positive out of it [the season] and sometimes that's the way you have to look at it. It can't all be negative because that'll drive you mad.

"I've got to keep the positivity in the group. If we get the win, we're one win away from Wembley."

Despite a shortage of defenders through injury and unavailability, Ferguson says he has "got options" and will "just get on" with picking his best side.

"I'm never one to moan. I have to try and pick a team that's going to win," he said.

"We'll have no complaints and, if we get it right, we'll have no excuses if we don't beat Cheltenham.

"We've watched them and they're in good form. They've got some big threats but we've got a big carrot [of Wembley] if we get through."