Darren Ferguson believes keeping Peterborough United in the Coca-Cola Championship would be his biggest achievement in football.

The Posh boss has enjoyed non-stop success in his brief managerial career, leading the club to successive promotions from League Two and League One.

But Posh have found life difficult in the second tier of English football and are next-to-bottom with just seven points from 11 matches.

Three straight defeats at the hands of Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle and Nottingham Forest have left the Championship newcomers short of confidence and raised question marks about their ability to bridge the gap in class.

Yet Ferguson remains bullish about his team's prospects this season, albeit while recognising the immensity of the challenge facing players and management alike.

Ferguson said: "Staying in this division and establishing ourselves as a Championship club would be a far bigger achievement than winning two promotions.

"We are basically in a mini-Premier League now. There are some huge clubs with lots of tradition and big fan-bases and it's hard for us.

"I knew it would be before we started and nothing I have seen has caused me to change my mind. It's been disappointing how the season has gone so far, but, trust me, we will be fine in the long run.

"Historically, we have always improved as a season has progressed and I am confident that will be the case again. We are a far better side than we have shown so far.

"I have a lot of faith in the squad and I expect us to come good. We have said from day one that we have not won back-to-back promotions just to stand still in the Championship.

"We want to stay here and we will."

Ferguson signed a new four-year contract in the summer as a reward for his success. Chairman Darragh MacAnthony gave his full backing to his manager last week, describing him as "the best man in the country for the job".

Posh may boast three prolific goal-scorers in Aaron Mclean, Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd, but defensive frailties have overshadowed attacking verve and it is easy to see where Ferguson's team is going wrong.

Posh have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Championship this season and have developed an alarming habit of shipping soft goals. At the other end of the pitch, 11 of their 12 goals have been scored by the three strikers mentioned above. If they fail, so does the team.

Although Ferguson has encouraged the attacking style which won back-to-back promotions, Peterborough's situation may force a switch to a more defensive policy, especially away from home.