Derby County and Bolton Wanderers were left contending for the final automatic promotion spot in League One after Peterborough United were eliminated from contention following their defeat at Cheltenham.
Posh manager Darren Ferguson sparked controversy by making seven changes to the squad that had previously won against Bristol Rovers, opting to rest key players like Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark.
While Peterborough had an outside chance of breaking into the top two, they required a significant swing in goal difference and victories against both Cheltenham and Bolton to have any hope of stealing the runner-up position.
However, Peterborough delivered a disappointing performance, setting up a crucial upcoming match against Bolton, who still have an opportunity to catch Derby. Paul Warne’s team only needs a draw at home against Carlisle to secure promotion back to the Championship.
The outcome of last night’s match also had significant implications at the bottom of the table, as Cheltenham still has a chance to climb out of the relegation zone, while Burton and Cambridge’s safety remains uncertain.
One Derby fan, responding to Peterborough’s Twitter account, expressed their displeasure by calling it “disgusting” to field a weakened team despite having a slim chance at automatic promotion, and they expressed a hope that this decision would backfire in the playoffs.
Similarly, a Peterborough fan criticized Ferguson’s team selection as “embarrassing,” accusing the team of squandering their chance for automatic promotion and showing disrespect by playing a weakened squad away from home, especially considering the fans’ travel efforts.
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