I knew we’d have to leave everything on pitch – Peterborough’s Darren Ferguson

Darren Ferguson praised Peterborough’s desire and determination to win after a dramatic stoppage-time penalty from Ricky-Jade Jones gave them a hard-fought 4-3 victory at relegation-threatened Crawley.

Boss Ferguson admitted it was a case of “leaving absolutely everything on the pitch” after Posh were pegged back following a first-half hat-trick in the space of 21 minutes from Abraham Odoh.

Crawley, who led early on through Armando Quitirna and later levelled at 2-2 through Jeremy Kelly, made it 3-3 when Rushian Hepburn-Murphy scored his first home goal for four months shortly after the break, but were ultimately edged out in a fast and entertaining game.

“Our desire was outstanding,” said Ferguson. “Crawley are a hard side to play against and I knew we’d have to leave absolutely everything on the pitch.

“All the substitutes played their part and we were ruthless; Odoh’s first two finishes were outstanding.”

Jones settled the issue by blasting in the penalty in front of the travelling fans after substitute Ade Adeyemo had brought down Odoh.

Ferguson added: “It was a fantastic penalty in that situation.

“Crawley went in with a ‘what-have-we-got-to-lose attitude’ and I always felt it would be that type of game.”

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey said he felt the remaining six games had not got any bigger in light of this defeat, which followed victories against Bristol Rovers and Rotherham in his first two matches since returning to the club.

The Red Devils remain six points from safety and Lindsey said: “When I came in we were 12 points from safety with nine games left and that is some ask.

“Some might say it’s impossible, but it’s never impossible. It’s still possible now.”

Lindsey thought his side were desperately unlucky not to take anything from the game, adding: “I think we deserved to win it. I thought we were brilliant and the better team.

“To concede a 97th-minute penalty is hard on the lads and the staff because I think we deserved so much more.

“Football has a nasty habit of doing that sometimes, when you play so well you don’t get what you deserve.

“It was a real spectacle for a League One game. At 3-3 they were trying to slow things down but we wanted to win it – unfortunately we ended up losing it.

“I’m devastated because of the effort they’ve put in.”