Grant McCann eyeing another Championship return after Peterborough are relegated

Grant McCann is out to inspire another immediate Championship return after Peterborough suffered relegation on a “sad day” after a 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.

Their inevitable relegation was confirmed by defeat at the hands of a Forest side still dreaming of promotion to the Premier League.

Sam Surridge headed the only goal on the stroke of half-time from Brennan Johnson’s cross when capping a terrific counter-attack started by Philip Zinckernagel.

McCann said: “It’s a sad day for everyone connected to the football club.

“People work tirelessly behind the scenes and fans pay their hard-earned money every single week, home and away, but we just haven’t been able to deliver.

“I can’t thank the players enough for the attitude, effort and determination they have put into the 12 games since I’ve been here.”

Posh saw good chances go begging in both halves as Ricky-Jade Jones and Harrison Burrows were denied by goalkeeper Brice Samba as their stay in the second tier ended after just one season.

Posh chief McCann, who returned for a second spell after Darren Ferguson quit in February, was in charge of Hull when they tumbled out of the Championship in 2020, but then masterminded a League One title for the Tigers the following campaign.

And he is already setting his sights on turning disappointment to delight in similarly spectacular fashion at Posh next term.

McCann added: “A lot of the players won’t have been in this position before and felt this sort of pain, but they have to feel it and use it to their advantage to ensure the comeback is stronger than the failure.

“We all want to be a sustainable Championship club, but now we have to focus on getting back into this league.

“I’ve had this experience before at Hull