Ferguson can see the light

Darren Ferguson is hoping Peterborough's improved second-half display in a 0-0 draw with Doncaster can turn their season around.

Posh collected their first home point for more than two months in a hard-fought stalemate at the ABAX Stadium. Ferguson, who side are still two points off the play-off places, said: "I felt we deserved to win the game and were slightly unfortunate not to manage to do that. "We upped the urgency and the tempo after the break and the fans were behind us. "We built an atmosphere through our performance in the second half, but we just couldn't find the final touch to put the ball in the net. "We have a break now, which gives us the chance to assess the season so far and look at where we need to improve. "We've picked up 31 points so far and we'll need to improve on that in the second half of the season as 62 points won't be enough to get us in the play-offs. "The run we have been on has been really disappointing and frustrating. We showed enough signs that we can get out of it with a few tweaks here and there." Despite Rovers coming closest to victory when Harry Forrester steered a free-kick against the crossbar early in the second half, moments after Enda Stevens had been denied by a full-stretch save from Ben Alnwick, Ferguson felt his team were unlucky not to register a second win in their last 11 league games. In the end Ferguson's side had to settle for avoiding a fourth successive home league defeat as fine saves from Rovers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone denied Luke James and substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. James also saw a late penalty appeal ignored by referee Gary Sutton after a tangle with defender Luke McCullough. A third successive clean sheet was not accompanied by a third successive victory for Doncaster, but boss Paul Dickov was far from disappointed. Dickov now faces a crucial week of transfer negotiations with the loan spells of four players - goalkeeper Johnstone, Reece Warbara, Enda Stevens and Andy Butler - due to expire in the coming days. Dickov said: "A draw is definitely a fair result. Both teams had their moments and enjoyed spells of pressure, but couldn't get a goal. "I don't feel Peterborough ever really caused us too many problems even though they have some very good forward players. "Our use of the ball could have been better at times, but the pitch cut up badly and that wouldn't have helped either side. "It is a measure of our progress that we are a bit disappointed not to have taken nine points from nine. "We've spoken to all the lads whose loans are due to expire and the talks have been positive."