Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson says his side might have been top of League One had Town and Wycombe not “played against Bolton’s youth team”.
Posh are currently third, two points behind the Chairboys in second and the Blues who lead the table on goal difference having played one game fewer than both the teams behind them.
Bolton were forced to play sides largely made up of U23 and U18 players in the opening weeks of the season while their takeover was completed. During that period Town won 5-0 at the University of Bolton Stadium, Wycombe having beaten them 2-0 at Adams Park on the opening day.
The Trotters’ new owners having been installed, they signed nine senior players on deadline day with their form gradually improving since then. They won their first game of the campaign 2-0 at Bristol Rovers last week. Posh play Keith Hill's side for the first time at London Road in December.
"Twenty-eight points from 15 matches is a decent return and let’s not forget if Ipswich and Wycombe hadn’t both played against Bolton’s youth team we might well have been top of the table,” Ferguson told the Peterborough Telegraph.
"But you tend to be where you deserve to be after 15 games and I’m very happy with our position. I’m delighted with how the players have performed so far.”
Overall, Ferguson, whose team would have beaten the Blues at London Road but for a last-gasp Luke Chambers header making the score 2-2 in August, has been pleased with his side’s form.
"The good far outweighs the bad so far,” he reflected. "When we’ve taken the lead in games this season we’ve picked up 26 of 30 points which is a very good stat.
"One League One defeat in the last 13 matches is excellent form as is five wins and a draw from our last six home matches.
"We’ve only picked up points from losing positions against Ipswich and Coventry, but the fact we came from behind twice against Coventry last Saturday and the second time was so late in the game was very encouraging.
"There are definitely areas we can improve. We’ve let two or more goals in on seven occasions which has to stop, but overall it’s been a pleasing start to the season.”
Town and Peterborough meet again when Posh make their trip to Portman Road on Saturday 1st February.