:00:11. > :00:21.Two weeks and counting and the play apse - play-offs are shaping up
:00:21. > :00:25.
:00:25. > :00:27.nicely. Fingers crossed, we're on Tonight: Face in the crowd - fans'
:00:27. > :00:37.favourite Gabby takes to the stands to cheer on his Peterborough
:00:37. > :00:38.
:00:38. > :00:41.teammates. Kim will be an experience. I hope to enjoy it.
:00:41. > :00:44.Already looking ahead to next season - we have a special report
:00:44. > :00:47.on Ipswich, aiming to get the balance right. There's nothing
:00:47. > :00:49.wrong with experienced players, but maybe there's been too many at the
:00:49. > :00:56.same time. And penalty prize - could this be a
:00:56. > :00:58.key moment in the League One play- off race? Hello, good evening.
:00:58. > :01:02.Stevenage are right back in the play-off mix, keeping their
:01:02. > :01:05.promotion hat-trick alive. It could be MK Dons at Wembley for them next
:01:05. > :01:11.month. What would they make of that? We can find out because our
:01:11. > :01:17.special guest this week, alongside Perry, is Borough boss Gary Smith.
:01:17. > :01:23.That would be a mouth-watering prospect! A sounds absolutely great.
:01:23. > :01:30.I wouldn't mind sticking Huddersfield in there, either.
:01:30. > :01:40.Looking forward to a trip to Wembley? We start with the team
:01:40. > :01:46.
:01:46. > :01:51.that won the League One play-offs last year, Peterborough. So,
:01:51. > :02:01.another season is drawing to a close. It began with such optimism.
:02:01. > :02:29.
:02:29. > :02:39.New signings and some big names, Seven straight defeats. The
:02:39. > :02:41.
:02:41. > :02:48.Two goals down with his job on the line, Ipswich fought back to score
:02:48. > :02:58.five times at Barnsley. You have got to believe in yourselves.
:02:58. > :03:15.
:03:15. > :03:20.He has been left bemused by large parts of the season. Memorable wins
:03:20. > :03:25.coupled with disastrous defeats. He described them as no better than a
:03:25. > :03:29.pub team at one point. Ipswich have been lingering too long to the
:03:29. > :03:34.crops sown for a lot of the campaign. I learnt a lot this
:03:34. > :03:39.season. We have experienced players in the group and there is nothing
:03:39. > :03:43.wrong with that, in fact they're key. But maybe we had too many at
:03:43. > :03:47.that one time. Getting the balance right has been the problem this
:03:47. > :03:54.season. When the manager of rides his job
:03:54. > :03:58.was to keep them up. Mission accomplished. This year many
:03:58. > :04:03.experts tipped it switched to challenge for promotion, but they
:04:03. > :04:08.have fallen some way short. It has been a real roller-coaster. We have
:04:08. > :04:12.had a real mix. Fantastic start against Bristol City. Goalscorer
:04:12. > :04:18.scoring goals, defenders not conceding. It looked like it was
:04:18. > :04:24.going to be a good season. The next match against Northampton set the
:04:24. > :04:30.scene for the whole season. Up and down. How can you explain the
:04:30. > :04:35.inconsistency? I don't know. We have had the same sort of players,
:04:35. > :04:41.but we have to change things have withdrew because a few of the order
:04:41. > :04:45.players were doing the business for me. Ipswich boasted the record of
:04:45. > :04:50.the championship's worst offence for much of this season, conceding
:04:50. > :04:55.more than three goals 11 times up until February. Since then, it has
:04:55. > :05:03.happened twice. The defence has had its critics, but it has tightened
:05:03. > :05:09.up in the last few weeks. What have you done better? You get an
:05:09. > :05:12.understanding, you know? The manager had a site in the
:05:12. > :05:19.afternoons and really figuring out where we were going wrong and what
:05:19. > :05:23.we were doing wrong and the problems we were having. When we
:05:23. > :05:27.were getting crucified as a back four, I was the first want to say
:05:27. > :05:32.it is a team game so you can nail everything on us. Apple said the
:05:32. > :05:36.same thing now, now that we are defending well you can't say it is
:05:36. > :05:41.just the back four. We are getting a lot more help from midfield and
:05:41. > :05:47.the centre-forwards. More is needed to turn it switch into a top-six
:05:47. > :05:51.side? Stability. That has been the key for the last few games. The
:05:51. > :05:55.stability of the team selection. Everybody knows what they're coming
:05:55. > :06:02.from at the minute. That we can get that next year, we will have a
:06:02. > :06:05.helluva chance. New financial fair- play rules are coming in, TV
:06:05. > :06:08.revenue for championship clubs is going down and with attendances
:06:08. > :06:13.falling for a 7th straight season there is less money to play with,
:06:13. > :06:17.but there is still hope. We have got some good youngsters and it we
:06:17. > :06:21.can keep them together and strengthen the squad, maybe we are
:06:21. > :06:25.in with the chance. Paul Jewell knows what is needed over the
:06:25. > :06:31.summer. I am confident that he will spend the money on the right
:06:31. > :06:36.players. What is required? Quite a few positions! We need a new
:06:36. > :06:43.goalkeeper. Two centre-backs. We need to start keeping clean sheets.
:06:43. > :06:47.I think we need a new striker, someone who can hold the ball up.
:06:47. > :06:52.But we can get a couple more defenders, maybe a goalkeeper then
:06:52. > :06:57.we can do well. I always hope will be in the play-offs, and that is
:06:57. > :07:02.all we have got to play for. takes a new manager a couple of
:07:02. > :07:06.years to get his team together. The fans just need to get behind the
:07:06. > :07:11.team and get them there next season. Grounds for optimism for fans next
:07:11. > :07:17.year. Will it be a big year? hope it is. We are working
:07:17. > :07:22.extremely hard. Our fans have been fantastic. We have had some poor
:07:22. > :07:26.performances this season. The inconsistency has let us down,
:07:26. > :07:31.conceding too many goals, beaten easily on a number of occasions. It
:07:31. > :07:35.feels that we are getting harder to beat. The addition of a few players
:07:35. > :07:41.in the summer will hopefully make us better.
:07:41. > :07:46.It really has been a turbulent season for them. Consistency for
:07:46. > :07:49.every team is something that you're striving for. Paul has mentioned
:07:49. > :07:55.there are, they are getting the right balance. It is not always
:07:55. > :08:00.easy to get the right pieces of the puzzle together straight away. It
:08:00. > :08:05.sometimes takes and continuity. It takes a lot of hard work and it
:08:05. > :08:14.seems that that will be the road that they will have to go down.
:08:14. > :08:19.Saturday summed up their season. They conceded far too many goals.
:08:19. > :08:29.141 goals in the games against Ipswich and they have conceded 74.
:08:29. > :08:33.They are back to the bad old ways. No pressure on the ball. Paul
:08:33. > :08:39.Jewell said he looked to strengthen the defence. One of the bright
:08:39. > :08:45.sparks this season has been Aaron Cresswell. He has been fantastic.
:08:46. > :08:51.Edwards has been good at right-back. You need some solidity in the
:08:51. > :08:55.middle. This won't be how they wanted to finish the season, they
:08:55. > :08:59.would have liked to have finished it better. You always want to
:08:59. > :09:09.finish on a good note, especially in front of the home fans.
:09:09. > :09:14.Conceding goals is not something any coach wants to be on the end of.
:09:14. > :09:21.They need to work on the training field, bring in one or two better
:09:21. > :09:26.editions. It is a team effort. won't be the first missed penalty
:09:26. > :09:32.we will see on the programme tonight! They gave Grant Leadbetter
:09:32. > :09:42.an ultimatum on Tuesday last week. To I think it will be Tuesday next
:09:42. > :09:43.
:09:43. > :09:49.week, bended Tuesday after that. Contract talks will start, it is
:09:49. > :09:53.that time of the season. Tommy Smith has been offered a new deal.
:09:53. > :09:59.He wants to get away from experience the medical bit younger.
:09:59. > :10:06.It is that balance, you know? Paul has those bodied in his mind that
:10:06. > :10:16.he feels will be good editions. Experiences great to have. It is
:10:16. > :10:25.
:10:25. > :10:35.always a night wrote to go, but They need a couple of Santa hats, a
:10:35. > :10:42.
:10:42. > :10:48.centre-forward, a goalkeeper! Peterborough is safe and one man
:10:48. > :10:53.has done his bit. Gabby is sitting out the final match of the season.
:10:53. > :10:58.He has been playing to the pain barrier, broken toe, this ticket to
:10:58. > :11:04.shoulder, groin and back injuries. The surgeon is not happy with me at
:11:04. > :11:08.the moment because I never listen to his advice. If there is 1% up be
:11:08. > :11:12.able to play and I can come up for the 90 minutes, I will give it a go.
:11:12. > :11:17.I said it would make myself available. The manager showed that
:11:17. > :11:27.he wanted to play me and I was ready to play! Small wonder he is
:11:27. > :11:28.
:11:28. > :11:34.so popular here. Player of this season, no less. He has 12,000
:11:34. > :11:38.Twitter followers. Twitter is very important. You get a lot of
:11:38. > :11:44.negative things, but I think it is good to have a relationship with
:11:44. > :11:48.the fans. Good way of supporting, I do lot of charity on it. It is a
:11:48. > :11:55.big part of my life. His next step is a scan to decide what surgery he
:11:55. > :12:02.will needs. Then, all being well, it is off to Ghana to work with his
:12:02. > :12:09.chosen charity, tackle after get. When you sit kids in a classroom
:12:09. > :12:13.there mind wanders. We got the best way to do it would be to teach kids
:12:13. > :12:19.about HIV when we're coaching football. We haven't met did not
:12:19. > :12:27.doing that. I want to use that method with the kids. Five minutes
:12:27. > :12:37.before kick-off, there is a reason why he is wearing that scarf. He is
:12:37. > :12:39.
:12:39. > :12:49.getting a taste of what it is like It is not long before Gabby and his
:12:49. > :13:00.
:13:00. > :13:05.fellow fans have something to No. 9! It wasn't long before
:13:05. > :13:15.Watford were level. The attempted clearance straight at the defender.
:13:15. > :13:22.
:13:22. > :13:32.This was a day when nothing was But would it be a lucky hat? It is
:13:32. > :13:42.
:13:42. > :13:47.Mare and it is in. 2-1, but Posh Paul Taylor is signing off in style,
:13:47. > :13:50.he is expected to lead at the end of the season. It could have been
:13:50. > :13:57.three points. This stunning drive, crashing off the underside of the
:13:57. > :14:07.bar. Did it cross the line? No, according to the referee. And that
:14:07. > :14:15.was it, the end of Peterborough's home campaign. It is what life is
:14:15. > :14:19.all about. It was a good atmosphere all round. There was one more twist
:14:19. > :14:26.to the afternoon, to the supporters club for the official player of the
:14:26. > :14:32.season presentation. The winner? You guessed it. I have a great
:14:32. > :14:35.relationship with the fans. It is in stark contrast to the
:14:36. > :14:42.disappointment of relegation two years ago. There are hopes are
:14:42. > :14:46.better things to come. It was not a good time a couple of years ago. We
:14:46. > :14:53.were relegated before the end of the season. To have achieved and
:14:53. > :15:00.now with a couple of games to spare, we can grab this with both hands.
:15:00. > :15:07.I think it is fair to say, he is Sam character, Gabby. You cannot go
:15:07. > :15:11.into the crowd and as you have had a good season. I have had Michel
:15:11. > :15:21.Platini on the phone on the goal line technology debate. Was it in,
:15:21. > :15:21.
:15:21. > :15:31.or was it not? It is the first time I have seen yet. What do you think?
:15:31. > :15:40.On first looks, it is a goal. And I would like to clarify, it was an
:15:40. > :15:50.Azerbaijani linesman. It is a tough one. That is have a look at the
:15:50. > :15:52.
:15:52. > :15:58.bottom of the table. Peterborough are say, nine points clear. -- save.
:15:58. > :16:05.They said that was the plan at the start of the season. That enables
:16:06. > :16:09.you to attract players. Their role model should be Stoke, that is what
:16:10. > :16:14.Peterborough need to do. Before we move on, I must mention another
:16:14. > :16:17.presentation at Posh at the weekend. The retirement of two very special
:16:17. > :16:22.people at Peterborough United. Derek and Margaret Poole have
:16:22. > :16:26.bought at London Road for more than 43 years. Derek is kit man,
:16:27. > :16:31.Margaret run the ticket office. They promised they would be back as
:16:31. > :16:35.fans next season. Congratulations to Derek and Margaret, from
:16:35. > :16:41.everyone at the Late Kick Off team, well done. Before the battle for
:16:41. > :16:48.the championship. We start with Stevenage. It will be tight, but it
:16:48. > :16:53.has been some season. It has been extremely exciting. Back to back,
:16:53. > :16:59.three winds, nine points. As soon as you add those that are poised to
:16:59. > :17:03.the board, we have a good squad and are good in that -- position.
:17:03. > :17:09.team was so successful. Then they were going quite well. You took the
:17:09. > :17:13.reins, had difficult was that? soon as it starts going badly,
:17:13. > :17:18.there is only one person who will get the finger pointed at them.
:17:18. > :17:22.There are one or two things I wanted to try and implement. The
:17:22. > :17:27.guys have taken a while to warm to that. But slowly but surely, we are
:17:27. > :17:34.showing much better signs. Certainly showing signs are that at
:17:34. > :17:38.the moment. Lady Luck was on your side. Absolutely. And you need that,
:17:38. > :17:45.especially when you are in the position we are in. Bradford could
:17:45. > :17:54.have been in front before we scored our first goal, -- Brentford.
:17:54. > :17:57.this a penalty? He showed all his this a penalty? He showed all his
:17:57. > :18:04.experience there. You can see by the referee has given up.
:18:04. > :18:09.Not the best penalty from Donaldson. What about this one? He probably
:18:09. > :18:17.should have stayed on his feet. think so. He has done a terrific
:18:17. > :18:23.job. But I think he can maybe stay on his feet. As it comes up the
:18:23. > :18:28.post, he does not panic. That did not look like such a good save the
:18:28. > :18:34.first time, but the second time, it is great. And after two missed
:18:34. > :18:41.penalties, a couple of great goals there. Craig has some wonderfully.
:18:41. > :18:46.I said to him afterwards, I think he meant it. Terrific first touch,
:18:46. > :18:54.then he does wonderfully to nick the ball on the halfway line. That
:18:54. > :19:04.is a hell of a strike. A little bit of creativity. Quick feet, nice
:19:04. > :19:08.
:19:08. > :19:12.balance. He is very difficult to play against. It is nice you are
:19:12. > :19:16.getting everyone fitter again at getting everyone fitter again at
:19:16. > :19:19.this time. John is coming back from injury.
:19:19. > :19:29.Pat has found some sharpness and fairness. Hopefully be a coming
:19:29. > :19:31.
:19:31. > :19:37.together at the right time. Here is You are in a really good position
:19:37. > :19:40.now. Tough game at the weekend and still all to play for. We have
:19:40. > :19:48.matched their cells and to a good spot. These are your remaining
:19:48. > :19:52.fixtures. Sheffield United away from home. Bury at home. There has
:19:52. > :19:57.to be six points. I think so, it will be tough at the weekend, but
:19:57. > :20:03.if we can go there and put points on the board, we will be confident
:20:03. > :20:13.coming back. We invited some questions from viewers. Here we go,
:20:13. > :20:17.questions from viewers. Here we go, the first one. I think the
:20:17. > :20:22.intensity in England with the amount of games and the lack of
:20:22. > :20:29.preparation time, I came just after the Christmas break. It has been
:20:29. > :20:39.very difficult to get the team ready and being compared to
:20:39. > :20:40.
:20:40. > :20:46.Saturday it in America, it has been One more question. That is
:20:46. > :20:50.something I have to improve on. No doubt about that. I honestly can
:20:50. > :21:00.say that there are so many emotions going around my head when that
:21:00. > :21:04.
:21:04. > :21:10.whistle blows. But do not -- I do not forget about the fans. The MK
:21:10. > :21:15.Dons played Sheffield United at the weekend, but they got beaten. Have
:21:15. > :21:24.they done you a favour? Who knows? They will be looking for that three
:21:24. > :21:33.points at the weekend. Alan Smith. I do nothing he has scored since
:21:33. > :21:38.2007. -- I do not think. That is a huge goal. It is a massive win,
:21:38. > :21:46.they have had 19 different goalscorers this season. That is
:21:46. > :21:52.important, when everybody is They thoroughly deserve their
:21:52. > :21:56.position and it is going to be a very good play-off situation.
:21:56. > :22:06.sending off was very harsh. I think the referee was too quick to
:22:06. > :22:13.
:22:13. > :22:23.atmosphere inside the ground. gives everyone that extra bit of
:22:23. > :22:27.
:22:27. > :22:34.passion. Jambo I Ibehre hit the bar passion. Jambo I Ibehre hit the bar
:22:34. > :22:40.there. -- double Ibehre. Sometimes you do need an outlet. Three winds
:22:40. > :22:45.on the spin. A couple of their players got and the League 1 team.
:22:45. > :22:49.Steven Gleason and Darren Potter. It is a great achievement and it is
:22:49. > :22:54.testimony to the way the team has put out and the way they play. It
:22:54. > :22:56.is going to be a very exciting play-off situation. Let us have a
:22:56. > :23:00.play-off situation. Let us have a look at the table. They are going
:23:00. > :23:05.to play Huddersfield, it is just a case of who plays the home leg
:23:05. > :23:12.second. They are in pole position for that. These are the play-off
:23:12. > :23:15.dates. They will be desperate to get a second leg at home. They had
:23:15. > :23:22.get a second leg at home. They had to be careful of players with
:23:22. > :23:28.injuries. But you want to clear second leg at home. What their
:23:28. > :23:33.prospects against Huddersfield? It would have to be at home second.
:23:33. > :23:39.think they have got every chance, they are a good side, very talented,
:23:39. > :23:42.they do have a small squad, as Perry pointed out, injuries, no
:23:42. > :23:52.suspensions, preparing properly and having a fit squad will be key for
:23:52. > :23:58.both teams. And Colchester, another draw. John Ward is really unhappy
:23:58. > :24:08.draw. John Ward is really unhappy about this goal. The ball has been
:24:08. > :24:18.chewed over. Nine draws in the last 11 games. That is more draws than
:24:18. > :24:21.new! I can sympathise. The moments, there would work takes a bit of an
:24:22. > :24:27.effect. The goals that you do not want to concede. A little bit of
:24:27. > :24:32.individual has and. But I sympathise, it is not easy.
:24:32. > :24:37.sympathise, it is not easy. 100th game in charge, John Ward.
:24:37. > :24:40.A terrific guy, it was nice to make his acquaintance.
:24:40. > :24:45.League 2, and Northampton fans can breathe a sigh of relief, their
:24:45. > :24:52.place in the Football League is secure. A massive., that kept them
:24:52. > :24:58.safe. Hereford have been struggling. This was just about getting the
:24:58. > :25:05.point. They can start looking point. They can start looking
:25:05. > :25:09.point. They can start looking forward to this season.
:25:09. > :25:18.There was a bit of goalmouth action in this one. There is a lot of work
:25:18. > :25:21.to do their at Northampton. think next season, the chairman has
:25:21. > :25:29.said they will have one of the biggest budgets in the division.
:25:29. > :25:36.They will want a lot more and a lot better. They will do. They are a
:25:36. > :25:38.decent sized club and there is expectation there. Decent strike
:25:38. > :25:42.expectation there. Decent strike from Vicky Featherstone. I do not
:25:42. > :25:50.think at will be too pleased if his chairmen is telling everyone how
:25:50. > :25:58.much money he will have. -- Nicky Featherstone. And you were at
:25:59. > :26:08.Southend at the weekend on Friday against Bonet. I was. It was a
:26:09. > :26:20.
:26:20. > :26:28.was almost sacked earlier in the season. He is their top scorer. It
:26:28. > :26:34.is talent and temperament, the risk and reward. Clearing everyone out
:26:34. > :26:38.and reward. Clearing everyone out and reward. Clearing everyone out
:26:38. > :26:43.the way, attacking the ball. Anyone the way, attacking the ball. Anyone
:26:43. > :26:53.in particular catching your eye? taken again with their schedule
:26:53. > :26:53.
:26:54. > :26:57.permits. -- take in again. Pretty much guaranteed to finish in fifth
:26:57. > :27:03.place, so there home like his second in the play-offs. There is
:27:03. > :27:11.still that opportunity of creeping into the top three. They have cared
:27:11. > :27:15.for clean sheets for the last five games. The bottom end of the table
:27:15. > :27:21.and confirmation that Northampton are safe. That draw against
:27:21. > :27:27.Hereford. Just about enough to see them stay in the division. It takes
:27:27. > :27:32.the pressure off. You can enjoy last game. Rather than feeling
:27:32. > :27:36.tense. He will be looking to improve next season. How do you
:27:36. > :27:40.attack this stage of the season? Any special plans? Not really, I
:27:40. > :27:45.think we have to keep things exactly the same. We have turned
:27:45. > :27:51.our form round. We need points to secure a that 6th spot. Keeping
:27:51. > :27:55.everything as normal is the key. You do not rely on one goalscorer.
:27:55. > :28:00.It is not as if someone gets injured, you think, that is our
:28:00. > :28:05.main threat gone. Absolutely. Somebody catching fire now could be
:28:05. > :28:08.a bit of the difference. You know how to do it, back-to-back
:28:08. > :28:13.promotions, there is no reason why you cannot make it through. There
:28:13. > :28:17.are a lot of guys in our group that have seen the players before, they
:28:17. > :28:22.have experienced promotion. Absolutely fired up to do third