Preview: Peterborough United vs. Accrington Stanley - prediction, team news, lineups

The Posh sit in fourth position, nine points clear of Stanley, who slipped to 17th after losing at home to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Match preview

Grant McCann's team picked up just their third away win this term at the weekend, beating 10-man Oxford United 2-1 with goals from Jack Taylor and Kwame Poku on their returns from their respective injuries.

Peterborough's home form has been stellar this season - only Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town have picked up more points at their own grounds than the Posh.

The only defeat at the Weston Home Stadium came at the hands of Fleetwood Town in September, but Peterborough have since picked up seven points from their next three games there.

They have looked quite shaky defensively, having not kept a clean sheet in their past five games, so Ronnie Edwards's return to form at Oxford on his first start in four games would have been welcomed.

Posh would not have wanted to have been 10 points behind the runaway leaders Plymouth at this stage of the season so, with a favourable run of fixtures ahead, they could get themselves back into contention for automatic promotion with a win here.

John Coleman's Accrington threw away a two-goal lead against Bolton on Saturday, after Harvey Rodgers's own goal and strikes from Kieran Lee and Dapo Afolayan earned Wanderers a 3-2 victory.

Shaun Whalley had given his side an eighth-minute lead before George Johnston's own goal after half time put Stanley in a favourable position, but they went on to lose their third consecutive league game.

It is also the third game in a row where they have conceded three goals, which will be a concern for Coleman as his side sit just four points above the relegation zone.

However, due to the tightly-packed middle of the division, it also means they are only four points outside of the top half, after picking up wins in all three of the games before their current losing run.

They will make life difficult for Posh's frontmen, having only conceded seven goals on their travels this term - three of those came in their defeat to Plymouth three weeks ago.

The Reds will be hoping for a more enjoyable visit to Cambridgeshire than last time, which saw the Posh pick up a resounding 7-0 win on their way to promotion.

Peterborough United League One form:

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Peterborough United form (all competitions):

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Accrington Stanley League One form:

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Accrington Stanley form (all competitions):

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Team News

McCann revealed he had nine players suffering from injuries of different severities ahead of the Oxford game, including Joe Ward who did start but was withdrawn early in the first half with knee and shin problems after a coming together.

The Posh will also be without Ricky Jade-Jones and Joe Tomlinson, and Harvey Cartwright and Oliver Norburn are long-term absentees, but Jeando Fuchs should be back after being rested for the Oxford win.

Seamus Conneely is still missing for Accrington as this is the third game of his suspension for his red card against Argyle, so Liam Coyle is expected to feature in the centre of midfield with Joe Pritchard and former Peterborough man Ethan Hamilton.

Toby Savin - who played in the 7-0 defeat last time the two sides met - has started the last two games in goal ahead of Lukas Jensen and should keep his place here, but Mohammed Sangare is still absent.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bergstrom; Thompson, Edwards, Kent, Butler; Taylor, Fuchs; Mason-Clark, Burrows, Poku; Clarke-Harris

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Savin; Clark, Tharme, Astley, Rodgers; Whalley, Coyle, Pritchard, Hamilton, McConville; Leigh

We say: Peterborough United 2-0 Accrington Stanley

Peterborough have been very good at home this season and should be comfortable once again against Accrington.

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