Darren Ferguson criticises Peterborough players after heavy defeat at Cardiff
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Darren Ferguson launched a savage attack on his players after their 4-0 relegation battle defeat at Cardiff.
The defeat allowed the Bluebirds to open up a 12-point gap on Ferguson’s side in the third relegation spot.
“I’m devastated. It was a humiliation and a complete embarrassment to the club. A performance of that level in a game of this magnitude will never, ever be acceptable,” said Ferguson.
“When you come into a game knowing Cardiff have lost nine games at home, and on the back of a performance last weekend that everyone agreed was a positive one, I cannot take one positive out of that performance, not one. I could have made about two subs after 20-25 minutes.
“It’s not going to make much difference but I do have to apologise to the fans who came down to watch what was an unbelievable performance. It could have been four or five-nil after 20 minutes.
“From the top to bottom of the game, in terms of the fundamentals – tackles, second balls, headers, set-pieces, running on the ball – they annihilated us. To see a performance like that is worrying.
“We changed formation three or four times and I’m trying everything I can to try to salvage a run of games where we can get wins, but it just isn’t working. That’s football and that lies with me.”
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Joe Ralls, Aden Flint, Jordan Hugill and Uche Ikpeazu got the gaols for the home side.
Steve Morison was left to reflect on a third Championship win in a row and a second successive clean sheet. His side have been transformed by a raft of loan signings in the January window.
“That was the most complete performance since I took over. We controlled the game without the ball really well and when we had our moments we were spot on,” he said.
“To a man we were top drawer and it was a good night. This game was always going to be much bigger than the FA Cup tie in Liverpool on Sunday.
“If I had been sat here having beaten Liverpool and lost to Peterborough we would have been dragged back to within six points of relegation.
“We had fresh legs tonight and I was able to bring some players off at the end to rest them ahead of Millwall on Saturday.
“That performance shows where I want to take this club and how I want the team to look on a weekly basis if I get the chance.
“Winning breeds confidence and we have to go again in 48 hours. The good thing is the players are starting to believe in themselves.”
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