LONDON (AFP) - Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson put a smile back on Sir Alex Ferguson's face by leading his team into the Championship with a 3-0 win over Huddersfield in the League One play-off final at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Less than 24 hours after the elder Ferguson's dreams of Champions League glory were dashed by Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Manchester United, it was son Darren's turn in the spotlight and his team rose to the occasion as three late goals in the space of seven minutes clinched promotion.
Tommy Rowe opened the scoring in the 78th minute and Craig Mackail-Smith increased their lead two minutes later before Grant McCann struck in the 85th minute.
Ferguson junior was sacked by Preston earlier this season but that must have seemed a distant memory as he celebrated at the stadium where his father has enjoyed so many famous victories.
Peterborough, relegated from the Championship last season, had finished eight points behind third-placed Huddersfield and Lee Clark's team started as favourites due to an impressive 27-match unbeaten run in the league.
Ferguson had asked his dad to stay away from the match in case he proved a jinx after seeing Peterborough lose the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Milton Keynes Dons.
It worked a treat as Peterborough took the lead when Rowe headed in McCann's free-kick from close-range.
That proved a shattering blow for Huddersfield, who lost in the play-off semi-finals last season.
Mackail-Smith is widely expected to leave Peterborough for a bigger club during the close-season and the Scotland striker signed off in style when a deflected effort curled into the net for his 35th goal of the campaign.
Captain McCann put the result beyond doubt with a superb free-kick, leaving Darren to celebrate restoring some pride to the Ferguson family with his third promotion in four years.
"It was disappointing for him losing on Saturday. The whole family was disappointed for him and I'm pleased I've put a smile back on his face," Ferguson said of his father.
Less than 24 hours after the elder Ferguson's dreams of Champions League glory were dashed by Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Manchester United, it was son Darren's turn in the spotlight and his team rose to the occasion as three late goals in the space of seven minutes clinched promotion.
Tommy Rowe opened the scoring in the 78th minute and Craig Mackail-Smith increased their lead two minutes later before Grant McCann struck in the 85th minute.
Ferguson junior was sacked by Preston earlier this season but that must have seemed a distant memory as he celebrated at the stadium where his father has enjoyed so many famous victories.
Peterborough, relegated from the Championship last season, had finished eight points behind third-placed Huddersfield and Lee Clark's team started as favourites due to an impressive 27-match unbeaten run in the league.
Ferguson had asked his dad to stay away from the match in case he proved a jinx after seeing Peterborough lose the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Milton Keynes Dons.
It worked a treat as Peterborough took the lead when Rowe headed in McCann's free-kick from close-range.
That proved a shattering blow for Huddersfield, who lost in the play-off semi-finals last season.
Mackail-Smith is widely expected to leave Peterborough for a bigger club during the close-season and the Scotland striker signed off in style when a deflected effort curled into the net for his 35th goal of the campaign.
Captain McCann put the result beyond doubt with a superb free-kick, leaving Darren to celebrate restoring some pride to the Ferguson family with his third promotion in four years.
"It was disappointing for him losing on Saturday. The whole family was disappointed for him and I'm pleased I've put a smile back on his face," Ferguson said of his father.
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