Imps boss Michael Appleton is wary of the attacking threat that Peterborough United will pose on Saturday, ahead of the first league clash between the two sides in over a decade.
The Posh have been free-scoring so far this campaign, scoring 26 times in their opening 11 league fixtures, with their goal difference only bettered by league leaders Ipswich Town.
Appleton realises the threat that Darren Ferguson’s side will pose in attacking positions, and knows that his side must show the defensive resilience that they did against Sunderland last weekend in the 2-0 victory at Sincil Bank.
“It’s going to be tough,” Appleton said. “They’re a very dangerous side, and there’s probably a lot of League One managers up and down the country that would love the kind of artillery that Peterborough have.
“They tend to go with a diamond in the middle of the park to try and free Maddison up behind the two strikers.
“If they go with anything different that is something we’ll have to prepare for on the day, but they back themselves to score lots of goals.
“It could potentially be a very good game of football.”
The two managers’ paths first crossed during their time at Manchester United in the 1990s, and while Appleton realises the opponents’ attacking threat, he was also quick to reiterate the quality within his squad.
“We have some dangerous players ourselves, don’t forget,” he added.
“The key for us is to try and take their threat away and nullify the amount of balls that get into them three and finding them in dangerous positions.”
Harry Toffolo believes that the Imps will have to replicate their defensive performance from last weekend’s win over Sunderland to stand themselves in the best position to get the best result from the game.
“Peterborough are probably one of the better teams in the division and it will put us up to the test,” Toffolo said.
“Keeping a clean sheet against Sunderland at the weekend, who are probably one of the biggest clubs in the country, and we kept a clean sheet, is something we have to build on.”
Tickets are on sale here for City’s first visit to Peterborough United since 2008.
