This League One Side Was Dead And Buried...But Now Could Get Promoted?

A Surprising Turnaround

League One outfit, Peterborough, has had one of the best turnarounds this season and is looking as if it could make a push towards the playoffs.

Flashback to October: the Posh had just sacked Darren Ferguson after a 2-1 defeat to Blackpool left them bottom of the league with 10 points in only 13 games. The Scotsman was at his third stint with the club but left them fighting for their life at the bottom of the table.

Morale was low, and a nightmare start meant Peterborough had to completely change their ambitions from promotion chaser to fighting for survival. However, they soon got together.

Flash forward to now, they find themselves at a steady 10th place in the league and eight points off the playoffs. Whilst it will take some hard work and a bit of luck, Peterborough fans will be happy they are in a much more comfortable position than they were a few months ago.

Could we see a late push?

What it means 💙#pufc pic.twitter.com/lLSzSJGsVu

— Peterborough United (@theposh) February 8, 2026

Who Deserves The Plaudits?

Firstly, manager Luke Williams has come in and done a superb job right off the bat. If you haven't heard his story, then it is definitely worth a read. He had been working at Bristol Airport as a customer care assistant since May 2025, after his sacking from Swansea City. After his brief spell at the airport, Peterborough knew that he would be the man to get them out of the mess they were in.

He has done an excellent job so far, and his change of tactics suited Peterborough's players from the ground up. High-intensity attacking play has meant he can get the best out of his creative players.

Starman Kyrell Lisbie recently scored a hat trick in The Posh's 6-1 win over Wigan Athletic. He is up to twelve goals for the season now and is full of confidence. The same can be said for 22-year-old striker Harry Leonard, who has hit 10 goals now this season, which is already his best goalscoring campaign to date.

If they can remain consistent for the season, then who knows where they could end up? Williams has been through promotions before and has the experience needed to take Peterborough to the promised land.

📷 Harry's 10th goal of the season 📈#pufc pic.twitter.com/d4g4FWyFoa

— Peterborough United (@theposh) February 9, 2026

Stats, Stats, Stats

Goals haven't been a problem for the team, as they are amongst the highest in the league with 40 goals scored in what has been a very fluid attack. They are able to share the scoring across the team without having to rely on a single player to provide an attacking spark.

In what has been a very promising attack, they have been let down by their defence inconsistencies. They rank as one of the poorer defensive sides in the league, having conceded 40 goals already, which averages out as over a goal a game. Clean sheets haven't been a huge rarity; however, stats suggest that The Posh have a 73% conceding rate, which is again one of the poorest in the division.

Having both a strong attack and defence wins you titles, but having one much higher than the other isn't going to cut it – especially not in a difficult competition like League One. If Williams can recruit some fresh-faced defenders in the next transfer window, then they could think about a proper push for the play-offs, depending on how this season goes, of course.

Stranger Things Have Happened

It is entirely possible that with a good run of form, Peterborough could sneak into that 6th-place position come the end of the season.

Unfortunately for them, they have hit a rocky patch, losing three out of their last five league matches, though it is important to note that they have only drawn two games this season. This means that if they aren't losing games, then they are usually winning them, which could be a deciding factor come the end of the season.

For example, if they were to win just half of their remaining games, they would end up on 65 points, which could potentially be enough to secure a playoff place.

However, a positive end to the season is most likely going to be more important than a play-off place. Yes, promotion to the Championship would be brilliant for the fans, but it is clear to see the squad is miles off ever being able to compete in the league above, not yet.

The change from the beginning of the season to now has been impressive, and if they could reach the play-offs, then that would be monumental.