Last Updated: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:17
Mark Cooper is calling on his players to show more "bottle" against Preston after accusing them of letting the club down on Saturday.
The Posh manager was furious in the wake of the 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, claiming the coaching staff's hard work had gone to waste.
He said: "We've prepared as if it was the World Cup final. I drove to Blackpool and watched Sheffield on Tuesday, prepared for three days solid on how we were going to play.
"So, as staff, we did our part but the players let the club down."It seems we have to go behind before we start playing. Well, if you're 2-0 down it is easy to play because there is no pressure on you.
"But it is at 0-0 that you've got to go and earn your corn. That's when it matters, and that's why we're struggling, because people don't have the bottle to go and do it when it is 0-0."
Cooper is now looking for a reaction from the players as his predecessor Darren Ferguson returns to London Road for the first time with North End.
He's also issued a thinly veiled warning to his stars that may not be fully committed to him and his team's relegation plight.
Cooper added: "I'm sure everyone will be looking forward to the Preston game with Darren coming back and we just have to go and get three points.
"I am sure they will all be hoping Darren will buy them. So if they want to go to Preston, they have to play really well on Tuesday night."