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Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson tears into his players after cup exit at Mansfield

Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson tears into his players after their Carabao Cup exit at Mansfield Town on Tuesday night.

Fergie didn’t hold back post-match, accusing his players of ‘absolutely bottling it’ as they bowed out of the Third Round to a team the league below them on spot kicks.

Mansfield go through through to the Fourth Round of the competition for only the second time in their history.

Former Posh keeper Christy Pym saved efforts from Jonson Clarke Harris and Ronnie Edwards, with Davis Keillor-Dunn hitting home the winner.

The League Two outfit went ahead just 5 minutes in when Will Swan put his spot kick down the middle after he went down in the area.

Clarke-Harris made it 1-1 with a firmly hit free-kick, before tapped in a second on the 47th minute to put Peterborough ahead.

However, an injury-time penalty from Lucas Atkins sent the tie to spot kicks, with the home side coming out the better to put Mansfield in the draw for the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 1975.

Darren Ferguson said, as per Peterborough Today: “It’s staggering or maybe it’s not for this group of players, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.

“We started the game well, but then we were indecisive. When the ball is bouncing around in the box, just clear it and then argue about it. It’s a poor start with the penalty. We lost it to no one taking responsibility Then we took control and should be equalising before we did.

“Jonno scored a good goal, then we are completely on top. For 60-70 minutes, they couldn’t get near us, it was just a case of killing the game off.

“Then, all of a sudden, they start going forward and we just bottled it. Pure and simple, I can’t dress it up. We found a way of losing a game when we should never be losing.

“I don’t like criticising my players in public, I very rarely do, but I’m not letting them get away with that. They absolutely bottled it.

“We lost our composure, we were losing tackles, we were kicking the ball anywhere, we looked so ragged and were all over the place. As soon of the game got tough, we went under and it disgusts me to say that. I’m not defending that.

“We knew they would play a diamond and how we could hurt it and we did. It was nothing to do with anything other then when they started putting us under pressure, we simply did not cope.

“A lot of them are still here from Hillsborough, maybe I should have got rid of the whole lot of them because a lot of them who couldn’t handle it then are still here. As a manager, you’ve got to have a team that can back up what you’re about and I’m not having that tonight.

“I don’t know why I should work with them when they do that. What’s the point? They don’t deserve it

“The main credential you need as a footballer is character and, when it’s tough, they need to roll their sleeves up and keep playing the way we want to play. They know how we want to play so to stop doing it because they started to get about us is an absolute crime.

“It’s a massive opportunity missed, it’s a terrible result. I hope Mansfield get Man United away or someone like that so the players can see it tomorrow night and be hurt because that is nowhere near good enough.

“I don’t know what to expect on Saturday, ask the players. I’m sick of protecting them, I’ve seen enough of this. They’re going to have to start showing a bit of bottle. It’s nothing to do with anything else, in the last 20 minutes show some bottle; they were running around all over the place. When you have to tackle, tackle like men. We can’t keep saying this.

“Seven of these played at Hillsborough. They bottled it that night and they’ve bottled it tonight. It’s absolutely horrendous for me to say – it’s my group of players – but they absolutely bottled it.”

Twitter users reacted as Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson tears into his players after cup exit at Mansfield…

@JessicaaAC: Love his honesty

@_mighty_quinn_: “we’re playing Mansfield”, then proceeds to take 0% of the blame. Yeah comes across as a really likeable bloke who you’d definitely want to play for and I can’t think for the life of me why Pym fell out with him…

@StagsAnalytics: The belittlement in this interview is what makes these wins better. Any top coach would’ve took a little more accountability don’t you think? Can tell he’s now out of his depth #stags

@HarryBrxwn: No wonder Pym through a boot at this dick 🤣🤣🤣

@BR_22__: Fair play, proper interview that. He’s not wrong either. Players are pure bottlejobs. #pufc

@McEwen1171: Finally some honesty 😍. #pufc

@festive_50: It’s YOUR job Ferguson. If you can’t do it, I’ll show you the door myself

@josh_massyPufc: One hell of an interview. Can tell the frustration and disappointment coming out.

@Ben_Mattin1: Oh that is absolutely beautiful stags making managers publicly say he should of sold every single player, drink the tears in lads 🟡🔵🟡🔵

@TartanSimmo14: He got it wrong also but this is the angriest ive seen him but players need to show passion. Everyone needs to play a part maybe we need a motivational coach to come in

@IanGow258682: Never his fault

@Kyle_Irving19: So Fergie lost his shit last night and threw his players under the bus, just 7 days after telling the fans that they need patience with this squad… this club 🤣 #pufc

@pufcfanno1:
The players aren’t good enough.
The players need to show some character.
The players bottled it.
Who signed the players?
Who picks the players?
Who manages the players?
Who gives them the tactical direction?
Who motivates them?
Who makes the substitutions?
#pufc

@Thomasking94: 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 heads gone fergie lidddd

@KieranUTP: Wouldn’t surprise me if Fergie walks #pufc

@JoshMakkie12: Would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall in that dressing room at FT. #pufc

@PUFCmemes: I seem to remember a certain owner telling us to give our young squad time and patience, because they will make mistakes. Did I just dream that? Or does that sentiment only extend as far as the fans? 🤔 Hypocrites. #pufc

@JessicaaAC: Love how honest Fergie is in his interview, there will always be haters but I don’t care. Looking forward to Saturday, my last game for a little while 🥹 #pufc 💙

@PUFCAaron: Anyone else find fergie ball very boring and easy to close down and disposes? #PUFC

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