Peterborough owner ups ante on Portsmouth with promotion claim

Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony believes his club’s chief rivals to go up this season are Kenny Jackett’s men.

The Irishman views the race to reach the second tier this term as open with a host of outfits potentially in contention.

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But speaking in the latest episode of his podcast - The Hard Truth - Inside the Football Industry - MacAnthony believes it’s Pompey who are currently the team to beat in a congested table.

He said: ‘There’s eight, nine or 10 teams in League One who could win promotion.

‘You wouldn’t want to bet on any of them.

‘I’d say Portsmouth are probably favourites.

‘They look like that big club, they’re strong and they have a good manager.

‘They’ve been there or thereabouts. So you’d have to put them there.

‘Hull are probably the next favourites.

‘Lincoln, even though they’ve had a lead, would probably agree and say Hull and Portsmouth are favourites.

‘It’s a brilliant league.’

The table currently sees just three points covering the top five sides with Peterborough sat in fifth place.

But MacAnthony also sees promotion contenders in the likes of Charlton and Crewe, who are sixth and seventh respectively in League One at present.

Pompey bid to go top of League One on Saturday when current leaders Hull City arrive at Fratton Park, and second-placed Lincoln entertain struggling Northampton.

MacAnthony feels in a congested table the threat comes from a number of different areas.

He added: ‘Last week Accrington Stanley were getting all the plaudits and tips for promotion.

‘They lose a game and people maybe go quiet on them. They’re still a dangerous team.

‘I said to the manager the other day even right down to Crewe. Crewe are a dangerous team, even though they could lose a couple of important players.

‘Charlton you’d expect to be in the shake-up. The last time they were in this league they won promotion.’

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