Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony has issued a dig at Frank Lampard, for a key decision during his managerial spell with Derby County.Â
Lampard took charge of the Rams back in May 2018, and guided them to the Championship play-off final at Wembley, although they fell short in their efforts for promotion into the Premier League, after a defeat to Aston Villa.
One player that didn't start in that play-off final against Aston Villa was Jack Marriott, despite the forward catching the eye in their semi-final against Leeds United.
Marriott scored 13 goals in 43 appearances for the Rams in that season, and his exclusion from the starting XI will surely have come as a surprise to many.
The forward signed for Derby County in July 2018, having spent one season with Peterborough United, where he scored 33 goals in 56 appearances for Posh.Â
Peterborough United's owner Darragh MacAnthony criticised Lampard for his decision not to start Marriott in the play-off final against Aston Villa, after being questioned on his past recruitment policy.
MacAnthony could be in for an interesting summer ahead, with the Peterborough United owner preparing for life back in the Championship.
Posh finished second in the League One table, and will be hoping they can impress back in the second-tier next season under Darren Ferguson's management.
The Verdict:Â
It was an odd decision at the time, I must admit.
Marriott was brilliant for Derby in their play-off semi-final against Leeds United, and his impact in the second leg in particular was one of the turning points in the game at Elland Road.
Therefore it did come as a surprise to see Lampard not start him against Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final, and it seems as though that proved costly, as they missed out on promotion into the Premier League.
That season will feel like a distant memory to plenty of Derby County supporters nowadays though, with the Rams having a number off-field problems, after retaining their status as a club in the second-tier on the final day of the 2020/21 season.