The champagne is on ice, but the Posh still have one final League One outing as they travel to Doncaster Rovers

As the fourth official raised his board after 90 minutes had been played at The Weston Homes Stadium last Saturday, it looked as though Peterborough United would be heading into the final game of the season with serious nerves.

Having squandered the chance to secure a return to the Championship after eight years away four days prior against Sunday’s opponent Doncaster, it looked as though Darren Ferguson’s side were going to have to use their second game in as many weeks against Rovers as the game in which they clinched promotion.

The Posh were 3-2 down to promotion rivals Lincoln City going into added time, having been 3-0 down. A goal from Siriki Dembélé gave the hosts a lifeline. The second 15 minutes from time from Jonson Clarke-Harris gave the Peterborough faithful waiting outside the stadium to celebrate promotion renewed hope.

Then, in the sixth minute of added time, referee John Busby pointed to the spot, giving the Cambridgeshire side a final chance to clinch promotion. Up stepped newly crowned League One player of the season Jonson Clarke-Harris. Of course he scored; it just had to be him.

Peterborough United will contest in the second tier of English football next season for the first time since 2013. A mixture of uneventful, uninspiring mid table finishes in League One with just the one top-six finish in their seven League One campaigns prior to this one – it must feel good to be back.

Alas, the season isn’t over just yet. There’s one final game as the Posh travel to Doncaster Rovers, despite having played them in the league just 11 days before (COVID, huh?!) and, it’s fair to say, the game means little.

The title is beyond the grasp of Sunday’s visitors after Hull City secured first-place with a 3-1 win against Wigan Athletic last weekend, whilst the most Doncaster can do is secure a top-half finish.

Sat in 12th place on 64 points, Rovers can finish the season as low as 14th, and as high as ninth with Ipswich (66), MK Dons (65), Gillingham (64), Accrington (64) and Crewe (63) all in the mix.

The play-offs have been beyond interim manager Andy Butler’s side for some weeks now, with Darren Moore departing for Sheffield Wednesday in early March.

Rovers’ managerial interviews have been well underway with the process delayed as two candidates had to delay last week. For now, it’s a case of trying to finish as high as possible.

Sunday won’t change the narrative of either side’s seasons. Both outfits will be keen to see the other side of the campaign with big summers ahead respectively.

The Posh have to recruit and prepare for a Championship season, whilst Rovers will be looking to be led towards a play-off push under new management.

Let’s just get it over and done with shall we?

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