Goal machine is big Latics threat

CRAIG Mackail-Smith is the man Athletic will have to watch closely when Peterborough United roll into town on Saturday.

The highly-rated striker didn't find the target when Posh saw off Paul Dickov's side 5-2 at London Road back in September, but has still managed to rack up an impressive tally of 24 goals so far this season.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to npower League One rivals Southampton in the January transfer window but the switch failed to materialise.

While he lost the services of partner-in-crime Aaron Mclean who moved to Hull City in the Championship for a fee of over £1million, Mackail-Smith is backed up by a host of other attacking talent at fourth-placed Peterborough.

With creative players like George Boyd, Lee Tomlin — now pushed up front in Mclean's absence — and Grant McCann still at the disposal of manager Darren Ferguson, it is little wonder Peterborough have racked up an amazing 67 league goals this season.

That is 11 more than anyone else has managed in the division.

What will give succour to Athletic manager Paul Dickov is Posh's 'goals against' column.

Only Bristol Rovers (65) have conceded more than Peterborough's 60. And the team's record away from home is not nearly as impressive as that at London Road.

Only four wins have arrived and second-bottom Dagenham have let in as many as Posh's 26 goals on the road.

Two strikes in the last five minutes secured their last win away from home at Yeovil earlier this month, but before that you have to go back to November of last year and a trip to then-bottom Walsall for the last away success.