LEE CLARK is priming his players to put the brakes on the country’s most prolific goalscorers and the man he regards as one of the hardest-working strikers in League I.
Saturday’s visitors Peterborough have plundered 93 goals in 40 league games this season, with Craig Mackail-Smith notching 24 of them and 29 in all competitions.
But Town have kept five successive clean sheets – and Clark is desperate to see that run extended as his side try to boost their automatic promotion hopes.
The Galpharm side, unbeaten in 19 league games, go into the meeting in second spot, two points ahead of Southampton, who have two games in hand, and three in front of Peterborough.
They know just how valuable a sixth win in seven would be, but are aware of the threat posed by Posh, who also have a 16-goal hot shot in George Boyd.
“We can’t wait for the game to come around because it has all the ingredients to be a cracker,” said Clark. “We know Peterborough are a terrific team going forward and they have some exceptional players, with Craig Mackail-Smith an obvious dangerman.
“I rate him and our own Lee Novak as the most hard-working strikers in the division, and we need to be totally switched on to deal with the threat they pose.
“Having said that, I’ve been delighted with the way we have defended in recent matches, especially after having to change the side a few times.
“Lee Peltier has shown what a top player he is, Gary Naysmith, Liam Ridehalgh and Jack Hunt have all contributed and Peter Clarke and Jamie McCombe have been immense.
“I’ve got Antony Kay and (on-loan Reading centre-back) Sean Morrison knocking at the door, but how can I change those two given our recent record?”
