This was Darren Ferguson’s first game back in charge of Posh, but what was the outcome?
After a good start, two quickfire goals put Brighton firmly in control, but in the second half, Darren Ferguson’s men played some excellent football and put the hosts under pressure. Lee Tomlin’s goal had the home side wobbling.
Posh, wearing red, got the game underway at a windy Withdean Stadium. Charlie Lee was left-back in Darren Ferguson’s first game back in charge with Tommy Rowe pushed into a three-man midfield.
A volley from Tommy Rowe went wide of the target on six minutes after Craig Mackail-Smith nodded the ball into his path. Brighton then began to find their feet and started their passing game, but Posh were committed in the tackle.
Grant McCann fired wide on 20 minutes from fully 30-yards. However, after a quiet start, Brighton took the lead moments after Chris Whelpdale had headed a Glenn Murray effort off the line. Elliott Bennett crossed from the right and was converted at the near post by West Bromwich Albion loanee Chris WOOD.
It was 2-0 to Brighton less than two minutes later as Elliott BENNETT was allowed to run at the Posh back-line and he curled a right-foot shot past Joe Lewis and into the back of the net.
Posh were lucky not to go further behind as Calderon should have made it three after he was picked out at the back post from an in-swinging corner kick, but he headed well wide of the target. Grant McCann nearly pulled one back as he curled a free-kick from 30-yards over the crossbar on 35 minutes after Charle Lee has been brought down.
On the stroke of half-time, Posh came close to reducing the arrears as an excellent pass from Clayton picked out George Boyd. Boyd tried to roll the ball past Ankergren, but defender Al-Abd blocked his effort.
Half-time: Brighton 2-0 Posh
No changes were made by either side at the interval.
Wood was denied by a good tackle from Ryan Bennett while McCann was cautioned for a foul and was then lucky to escape a second booking after appearing to throw the ball away.
Brighton increased their lead on 56 minutes, as Murray picked out Chris WOOD who slid home from close-range for his second of the game. James Wesolowski then immediately replaced Clayton, who was at fault for Brighton’s third goal.
Rowe had a volley deflected wide after a good ball into the box by Tomlin while Wesolowski fired wide from a tight angle moments later.
Posh finally got a goal back on 66 minutes when a deep cross from Craig Mackail-Smith picked out Lee TOMLIN who headed past Ankergren.
Wood was then booked for kicking the ball away before the referee talked to the Brighton bench as they vented their anger.
Posh were on the up as Boyd sent a shot just wide via a deflection after bursting from midfield. Langmead headed the corner kick wide of the target though. A cross-shot from Chris Whelpdale then struck the crossbar as Posh looked to reduce the arrears further.
Ryan Bennett was inches away as McCann’s corner picked him out at the back post. Wesolowski was then denied by Ankergren from distance.
Posh hit the bar again on 81 minutes this time by Boyd after he’d beaten two defenders with a wonderful turn and a superb chip hit the crossbar. Mackail-Smith then glanced a McCann free-kick wide.
Posh were creating by far the most chances now and another chance following a one-two from Wesolowski and Rowe ended with the latter lofting his shot over the bar from a tight angle.
Barnes was then booked for time wasting. Four minutes of added time was indicated and within seconds Ankergren was at full stregnth again to deny Tomlin. Late in stoppage time, Grant McCann was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Final Score: Brighton 3-1 Posh
Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, El-Abd, Bennett, Sparrow (sub Kishishev 73min), Calderon, Murray (sub Barnes 78min), Painter, Bridcutt, Noone (sub Dicker 61min), Wood. Unused subs: Brezovan, Elphick, Holroyd, Sandaza.
Posh: Lewis, Langmead, Lee, Boyd, McCann, Mackail-Smith, Rowe, Bennett, Whelpdale, Tomlin, Clayton (sub Wesolowski 58min). Unused subs: Little, Agard, Mendez-Laing, Nana, Collis, Obika.
Attendance: 7,233 (248 Posh fans)
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