Sam Allardyce believes Darren Ferguson has inherited the managerial magic from his father Sir Alex.

Ferguson guided Peterborough to successive promotions in the last two seasons.

Posh finished second in League Two in Ferguson's first year as a full-time manager, before repeating the feat in League One last season to earn promotion to the Championship.

For the time being it seems the Midas touch is something that runs in the Ferguson family, and Allardyce for one is convinced that a great deal of wisdom has been passed on from father to son.

"It has been absolutely wonderful, he (Darren Ferguson) hasn't experienced failure yet at all," Allardyce said ahead of the Carling Cup tie between the teams.

"For a young man dropping into his first job, it can often be a tough time in terms of making a team with fewer finances, and sometimes your inexperience can cause you a problem.

"But it hasn't for him and he has obviously inherited a lot of the top qualities of his dad.

"One of those top qualities is that he is his own man, and his own man-manager, and he's used those skills to a very productive end with his success at Peterborough.

"Two promotions back to back is a huge achievement for any manager in any division - very few will have their name in the record books with that.

"Being such a young manager when he has done it, in his first full-time job, is brilliant."

Life in the Championship has not been as straightforward so far this season for Peterborough, who currently lie just above the relegation zone in 21st place after 14 games.

Allardyce warned that the club would have to adapt quickly to the level Ferguson had brought them to, or risk undoing his good work entirely.

"They are finding it a little tough this year, but that is only to be expected having chased away from where they were before," Allardyce said.

"He has taken the club way beyond what it could have expected, the club itself is probably 50 per cent or 60 per cent behind Darren Ferguson and where he has now got them, and they have got to catch up quick or he could suffer for it."

Allardyce will be hoping no more of his players fall victim to an outbreak of swine flu, having confirmed on Monday that three members of his squad were suffering with the virus.

Pascal Chimbonda (calf) and Vince Grella (thigh) will also miss out through injury.

Franco Di Santo is available again having not been eligible to play against Chelsea at the weekend, but as in previous rounds, Allardyce is likely to rest a number of regular first-team players.