Goals Galore at London Road

Records were broken in the Premier League this weekend, an astounding 41 goals were scored during the day's action on Saturday 5th February, and it is goals that today's article focuses on.

However it isn't just in the Premier League where the goals are flying in, London Road has also been the scene of many big score-lines. You can go as far back as the 1960-61 season where Peterborough managed a record that still remains today - 134 goals in a season in the old Fourth Division - but they have started to make a name for themselves yet again as a consistent goal scoring side in recent years.

The late Keith Alexander revived the trend for the Posh in the 2006/07 League Two season with some impressive 4+ goal home wins against Bristol Rovers, Accrington and Torquay. Darren Ferguson took the helm in January 2007 where his reign began with a stutter, picking up the pieces from the end of Alexander's run of six straight defeats. He had to wait 4 games for a win (against former team Wrexham) but then the goals started flowing once more, finishing the season in 10th but also notching up the most home goals in the league with 48.

[caption id="attachment_422" align="aligncenter" width="310" caption="Deadly Duo: The McLean/Mackail-Smith partnership was a big part of the free scoring Peterborough regime."][/caption]

It was in the 2007/08 season where Peterborough won promotion into League One where they really started to find their goalscoring feet. Their three most efficient forwards; George Boyd, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith could not stop hitting the back of the net with 78 goals between them in all competitions. Notable scorelines included a 7 goal drubbing of Brentford and an even more astounding 8 (EIGHT) - 2 win over Accrington. You know their big results when you need a worded description on the vidi-printer. Yet again they managed to take the title of most goals scored at home with 46 proving that London Road was quick becoming the place for goals.

Pessimism was not favoured in the following season which saw the team gain promotion yet again, defying what was expected of the League One new boys. Although not achieving a third successive most home goals record, the trifecta of Boyd, McLean and Mackail-Smith were efficient as ever with 57 goals between them in all competitions.

[caption id="attachment_423" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Flying Scotsman: Boyd was an interest for fellow Scot, Billy Davies, but remained a Posh player."][/caption]

The Championship was where Ferguson suffered his demise, with the second successive promotion proving too much for Peterborough, finishing the 2009/10 season in 24th place and leaving the club just 2 months into the season. In terms of goalscoring, the aforementioned trio of forwards only managing 31 goals in all competitions between them however there were glimmers of the hope within the three. George Boyd's talent was obvious to Billy Davies et al, finishing the season on loan at Nottingham Forest but returning back to his parent club after a deal was not negotiated. One notable game for the club came at home against Cardiff coming back from a 4-0 deficit to level the game at 4-4.

The 2010/11 season saw Peterborough back in League One and the big results have been coming in thicker and faster than ever. Not even the sale of striker Aaron McLean to Hull for a record £1.3 million has stopped the goal train at London Road. 70% (7 in 10) of Peterborough's home wins in the league so far have resulted in the home side scoring at least 4 goals. With 19 games remaining, they have already scored 45 goals at home - more than any other team in the whole Football League and Premier League thus far.

[caption id="attachment_417" align="aligncenter" width="310" caption="Familiar Faces: Ferguson's existing relationships with the Peterborough players can only add to their aspirations."][/caption]

What is the secret to their attacking prowess? It's a tried and tested formula with familiar players leading the front line consistently and with Darren Ferguson returning to the club the familiarity can only further flourish. Peterborough also appear to be very effective on the break, with players like Boyd, Mackail-Smith and new signings Lee Tomlin and Wolves loanee Nathaniel Mendez-Laing all possessing plenty of pace to burn. George Boyd, for me, is the catalyst for the goals though. I'm very surprised Forest didn't pick him up after his loan spell or that any other clubs haven't swooped for him. He is a very technically gifted player with a mean left foot for not only scoring but creating chances too.

Even though the defence may be leaky, with these high scoring affairs more often than not involving the opposing team getting on the scoresheet too, the entertainment at London Road is must be stellar. I would love to see my own team, Swansea, scoring in abundance like the Posh do, but I'm not sure whether my heart could take the drama of such events after being lulled into a defensive, no score, Paulo Sousa induced coma from last season - it'd certainly be different.

League One is a very tightly contested league this year, Brighton have taken a firm grasp of the top spot, but the play-off and automatic places could be open to any of the top 8 with no clear favourites. If Peterbrough can continue they're free scoring ways throughout the rest of the season under Ferguson's second tenure at London Road then there is no reason why they may not find themselves too surprised to be back in the Championship next season.