Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson believes his side need to be more ruthless despite extending their unbeaten run in League One to eight matches with a 1-0 victory at Port Vale.
The only goal of the game came in the 14th minute when Connor Ripley failed to keep out Ephron Mason-Clark’s back-post header from Kwame Poku’s cross.
Posh had plenty of chances to put the game to bed thereafter, but ultimately had to battle hard to see the win out.
“It was a very good result,” Ferguson said.
“These are the sort of results that you need to get away from home on a Tuesday night, and sometimes you have to just dig it out and we did that tonight.
“We should not have had to with the amount of opportunities we had, but we did.
“Some decision-making let us down in the top end of the pitch attacking wise, but defensively we were very solid – the goalkeeper was very solid, and the two centre-halves were outstanding.”
Ripley produced a superb double save in first half added time – firstly denying Joel Randall and then Ricky-Jade Jones – to keep the deficit to one going into the break.
The Vale goalkeeper had to be alert again to thwart Poku when one-on-one just before the hour mark.
“We should not be having to hang on, if you want to call it that, because the two chances – Joel’s and Ricky’s – one’s got to go in, it’s from six yards,” Ferguson added.
“And then in the second half, I mean some of the decision-making, we’ve got to be better in our decision-making.
“The players know that, but credit to the defenders in particular.”
The hosts threatened to equalise in the 67th minute as substitute James Plant’s goal-bound effort was blocked superbly by Ronnie Edwards on the line, but that was as close as they came.
Boss Andy Crosby feels his team, who are now without a win in seven league games, are lacking a cutting edge.
“We showed the effort, the application, the commitment – we went right to the end,” he said.
“We’ve played one of the top teams in the division with a real attacking threat, a real attacking presence.
“We go behind early in the game and they dominate the early periods, but we change the shape, we then press with a bit more intensity and turn a few balls over.
“And we seem to be saying the same thing when we get into the final third – we’re not executing the finish, the cross.
“But the effort and the commitment to keep going, to not feel sorry for yourself (was there), and that’s what you’ve got to do.
“I’ve said just now we’ve got two choices – we either start feeling sorry for ourselves and we splinter as a group.
“But I’m 100 per cent sure that’s not going to happen. I look at the lads and they’re giving absolutely everything for the cause.”
Vinicius 'proving he's one of the best in the world', says Carvajal
Vinicius Junior has come on leaps and bounds and is proving himself as one of the best players in the world, according to Real Madrid team-mate Dani Carvajal.
The pair are gearing up for Madrid's mouth-watering Champions League semi-final second leg against fellow European heavyweights Bayern Munich, with the tie finely poised at 2-2.
Vinicius scored both goals for Carlo Ancelotti's side in last week's first leg, taking him to 31 goal involvements (16 goals, 15 assists) in the Champions League since the start of the 2021-22 season, more than any other player during that time.
And Carvajal says the strides made by the 23-year-old are evident.
"He's improved in every aspect - his finishing, physically, his maturity when playing, knowing when it's right to attack the space or to ask for the ball to be played to his feet," the full-back told reporters during the pre-match press conference.
"He's one of the best players in the world, and he's proving that. We know that he puts in a lot of work away from [the training ground], having his training sessions, physio and coaching.
"All of this is helping him to be one of the best in the world. Hopefully, he can help us on the pitch [in the second leg] and see us through."
The most successful side in the competition's history, Madrid are aiming to remain on course for a 15th European crown, while Ancelotti targets a record-extending sixth appearance in the final as a manager.
"There's not much more to say when the time comes to play the second leg of a semi-final in your home stadium," Carvajal added. "The motivation of the match itself ensures that your attention level is at its highest.
"We know that we're up against a side with a history in this competition [six titles], so we have to attempt to beat them and reach the final."
Kick-off time set for World Cup qualifier against Dominican Republic as Reggae Boyz face busy schedule
CONCACAF has officially announced the kick-off time for Jamaica's highly anticipated opening match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Dominican Republic. The game is set to take place at the National Stadium in Kingston on June 6, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 pm local time.
This pivotal match marks the beginning of Jamaica's journey towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, igniting hopes and dreams across the island. Jamaican football enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating this clash as the Boyz aim to make a strong start on home soil against the Dominican Republic.
The announcement of the kick-off time is just the first step in what promises to be an eventful campaign for Jamaica's national team. Alongside the World Cup qualifiers, Jamaica will also participate in the prestigious Copa America in June, where they will face tough opposition in Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela during the group stage.
Following the World Cup qualifiers and Copa America, Jamaica's focus will shift towards the 2024/2025 edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, illustrating the team's packed schedule and determination to excel on both regional and international fronts.
Looking ahead, the upcoming World Cup Qualifier against the Dominican Republic sets the stage for an exciting period of football for Jamaica, with the team poised to showcase their talent and passion as they strive to secure a spot in the global spotlight of the FIFA World Cup.
Details regarding ticket prices, ticket purchasing, and media accreditation for the match will be provided in due course, ensuring that fans and media alike can fully immerse themselves in this thrilling chapter of Jamaican football history.
Dortmund have flown under the radar to reach Champions League final, says Terzic
Borussia Dortmund have benefited from going under the radar during their "unbelievable road" to the Champions League final, according to head coach Edin Terzic.
The Black and Yellow will play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the showpiece on June 1, following a hard-earned 2-0 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain in the last four.
Dortmund came into this season on the back of a bitter Bundesliga title loss on the final matchday of the previous campaign, with a 2-2 draw against Mainz handing the title to Bayern on goal difference.
While Terzic's side have been unable to launch a genuine challenge on the domestic front this term - currently occupying fifth place and 24 points adrift of newly crowned champions Bayer Leverkusen - it has been a different story in Europe.
"There is always a team that no one has on their radar that reaches the quarter-finals or the semi-finals," he said. "We wanted to be the team that were not necessarily on anyone's radar. That road has been unbelievable."
Indeed, it has. Dortmund began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat at PSG and goalless draw at home to Milan, but recovered to top Group F before seeing off PSV and Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively.
The 1997 Champions League winners then produced a defensive masterclass across both legs of their semi-final with PSG, to reach their first final since 2013.
"After the second matchday, almost no one believed in us any more," said captain Emre Can, who made his 50th Champions League appearance during the second leg at Parc des Princes.
"We only had one point after two matches, but we kept believing and that was the most important thing. Keeping two clean sheets in two matches against PSG is no mean feat."
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