Robbie Savage marked his debut as Peterborough United manager with a 3-1 victory over Leicester City, a result that lifted the League One club out of the relegation zone and offered a promising start to a challenging campaign. The Welshman, who was appointed despite having no prior experience managing in the English Football League, led his side to an emphatic win against his former club at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Savage, 51, who previously guided Macclesfield to the Northern Premier League title and took Forest Green Rovers to the National League play-offs, has been handed a four-year contract by Peterborough, with the club’s director of football, Barry Fry, revealing expectations for a play-off push despite the team’s position near the bottom of the table. Peterborough entered the weekend second-from-bottom in League One, seven points adrift of the play-off places and 14 positions behind the final promotion spots.
“The ambition is to finish in the play-offs,” Fry said. “It’s a tall order, but that’s what we’ll be aiming for.” The club had endured a difficult run under former manager Luke Williams, winning only two of their previous 17 matches and scoring just four league goals in their first eight games this season. Injuries and the departure of key players such as Kyrell Lisbie and Archie Collins contributed to the struggles.
Despite a bloated squad of around 40 players, Savage reportedly faces limited transfer activity in the January window, with Fry emphasizing the need to work with the current roster due to financial constraints. “The owner can only put so many millions in and then we have to find the rest by selling our players,” Fry commented. Peterborough also bolstered their attacking options over the summer by signing Ethan Williams and Owura Edwards, who successfully combined with last season’s top scorer Harry Leonard during the win at Leicester.
On the touchline, Savage’s energy was evident from the outset as Peterborough pressed Leicester aggressively and capitalized on counterattacks. Edwards opened the scoring in the 12th minute, followed by Leonard’s finish before halftime. A deflected own goal further extended Peterborough’s lead, with a late second-half goal from Emil Riis proving a mere consolation for Leicester.
Savage described the victory as one of the greatest days of his life and reflected on his journey from managing in front of small crowds to leading a successful Football League side. Returning to Leicester, where he made over 200 appearances and won the League Cup in 2000, Savage received a mixed reception from fans but remained unfazed.
“Some Leicester fans forget that I gave five years of hard work for this football club,” he said. “Some of the fans were great, some weren’t. I don’t mind that. I do the best for my football club.”
Following the match, Savage emphasized a collective approach, celebrating with players, staff, and supporters alike. “I want everyone to feel when we win it’s a high and when we lose, we’re all deflated,” he said. “Whether that’s the playing staff, the backroom staff, the fans, the volunteers, the stewards, I try to get a one-club mentality.”
Peterborough’s strong performance under their new manager signals a potential turnaround as they seek to climb the League One table amid significant challenges.