Peterborough United co-owner is looking forward not back: ‘I’m not going to kick the players while they are down, we could be top of the league by the weekend’

Posh were deservedly beaten 2-1 by non-league Chorley at the Weston Homes Stadium as they failed to reach the third round for just the second time in 15 years.

Second-placed Posh now face away games at AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday (December 2, 6pm) and Portsmouth on Saturday. They are currently two points behind leaders Hull City.

MacAnthony, who refused to have a go at the players for Saturday’s lame effort, said: “The players know their standards dropped. Congratulations to Chorley, but it was an absolute disaster for us and the players will be feeling the hurt and pain like we all are.

“The vitriol I received on social media after the game was something else, but that was to be expected. We all get a bit emotional.

“I’m not going to kick the players while they are down. It’s not my place and there would be no point.

“We have to look forward. First and foremost we now have two away games and if we do the business in both of them we could be top of the league.”