SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S son, Darren, launched a furious rant at his Peterborough flops after they were thrashed by Lincoln.
The Posh were torn apart on their visit to the LNER Stadium on Saturday as they went 3-0 down before they even mustered a response in a heavy 5-1 defeat.
It was the joint second-heaviest defeat of Ferguson’s managerial career, only eclipsed by 5-0 thrashing’s at the hands of Bolton in February 2023 and Oxford United in April 2024.
And it a result which compounds a shocking run of form that has left Peterborough 19th in the League One table.
They are without a win in eight league matches, with their last win coming in a 4-3 thriller against Crawley on December 14.
Speaking after the defeat, Ferguson – who is now in his fifth stint as Peterborough boss after taking charge in January 2023 – declared this was the “softest” group of players he has managed.
He said: “I’m embarrassed. It was an embarrassing performance. I’ve never seen that from a Peterborough United team at this level. It was embarrassing.
“The first goal was a free header. We just let them score and do what they wanted. It was a mess. A complete mess.
“If you don’t run, you don’t tackle, don’t have a real desire to turn up every game then that’s what happens.
“That’s the problem with this group. They haven’t got the desire. They have not got the desire as a group. It’s just basics. They don’t run, don’t tackle, don’t head. They don’t tackle properly.
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“It was a shambles. I don’t often say that about my teams, but I’m sorry, I have to be honest. This group of players is without doubt the softest group of players I’ve ever had in my management career.”
Ferguson singled out Cian Hayes for criticism on the penalty which was given away to make it 3-1 after half-time, while Hayes later conceded an own goal to make it 4-1.
“We changed the shape at half-time and then give away a horrendous penalty – what is he doing?
“I don’t know. It’s my group of players and all the rest of it. But sometimes you think you’re wasting your time.”
Ferguson added that he felt sympathy for the 1,800 travelling fans, more than half of whom left the match early.
“It’s easily my worst defeat as a Peterborough manager. The manner of it. More than half the fans left before the end. That tells the story.
“We sold out, and they are wasting their time.”
Peterborough will be hoping they can have better luck when they host Wigan at Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday.
Their horror run of form included a 2-0 loss to Everton in the FA Cup third round, where Ferguson said a Toffees star had a pop at him for denying a moment of history for Ashley and Tyler Young by not bringing on the youngster to share the pitch with his father.
