An improvement in Peterborough United striker Ivan Toney’s discipline could be a key contributor to any potential promotion push mounted by the club in Sky Bet League One this season.
The 23-year-old Northampton-born goal machine netted a hugely impressive 23 goals for The Posh last season in his first year with the club but a poor disciplinary record which contains 12 yellow cards and one red shows that there is improvement to be made by the player in terms of his on-field temperament.
The statistics which surround Toney’s disciplinary record do not make positive reading. Peterborough United have failed to win two thirds of the matches in which the troublesome striker has been cautioned, while his dismissal in the first half of February’s home fixture with Shrewsbury Town saw The Posh crash to a 2-1 defeat.
Make no doubt about it, Toney is a superb talent who has all of the attributes to top the Sky Bet League One goalscoring charts this season, however, his conduct must improve if his club are to reap the full rewards of his performances.
This is undoubtedly a big season for The Posh. The club have recruited exceptionally well over the summer and manager Darren Ferguson is well aware of what is required to win promotion to the Sky Bet Championship having already twice achieved the feat with the club earlier in his managerial career.
Having a player with the ability of Toney is worth its weight in gold for The Posh but a better disciplinary record could be the different in the club recording that all-important promotion-winning point or suffering last minute heartbreak.
