Posh Winners Against Bantams
Peterborough United recorded a second successive home league win over one of their promotion rivals as Bradford City were beaten 2-1 at London Road with Kgosi Ntlhe and Britt Assombalonga on target for Darren Ferguson's men.Lee Tomlin looked lively in the opening exchanges, seeing an early shot blocked before dragging a right-footed effort wide of the target after he was picked out 25-yards from goal.
The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes and what a strike it was. A corner was only half cleared, but nobody in the Bantams ranks would have been expecting left-back Kgosi NTLHE to fire home a swerving left-footed effort from fully 30-yards, leaving McLaughlin with no chance.
McCann saw a left-footed free-kick comfortably claimed by McLaughlin moments after the goal, which was Ntlhe's second goal in three games for Posh.
On 24 minutes, Posh made it 2-0 as Jeffers fed strike partner ASSOMBALONGA on the edge of the area, he still had plenty to do, shifting it to his left-foot before whipping a powerful left-foot curler into the bottom corner.
The dancing feet of Lee Tomlin provided a chance for Assombalonga to make it 3-0 on 26 minutes, but his dink over the keeper drifted wide of the target with McLaughlin at his feet.
Bobby Olejnik was well positioned to deny a side-foot from Jones moments later after Wells had nipped past Ntlhe and burst into the box.
On the half hour, Tomlin saw a powerful drive fly over the crossbar as Posh pressed for a third goal. Brisley was cautioned for felling Thompson on 38 minutes.
Moments before injury time at the end of the first half, Tomlin was a width of the post away from making it 3-0, his run and shot beating the goalkeeper, but not the woodwork.
Bradford made a double change at the break with Kyel Reid and Andy Gray the men introduced into the action.
On 56 minutes, some superb football from Darren Ferguson's men nearly produced a third goal, Newell's flick feeding Tomlin, his pass in turn found Assombalonga, but his shot was smothered well by McLoughlin.
Olejnik did well to parry a fierce drive from Yeates while Brisley was lucky to escape a final warning from the official after charging into the back of Wells while on a booking.
Tomlin was denied by a good stop from McLaughlin after cutting inside from the left as this game swung from end to end with both sides contributing to an excellent contest.
Hogan Ephraim replaced the excellent Newell on 66 minutes as Darren Ferguson made his first change of the afternoon. McArdle was cautioned for a very late challenge on Tomlin right in front of the referee, Mick Russell immediately bringing out the yellow card.
On 77 minutes, Bradford reduced the arrears and it was no surprise that the source was Reid, his low cross diverted past Olejnik at the near post by GRAY.
Olejnik then denied a toe-poke from Wells before Ntlhe produced a fine block to stop Jones from converting the rebound. Jones saw a shot blocked and Doyle fired over on 86 minutes as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.
Assombalonga was a whisker away from his second and Posh's third in stoppage time, but his effort from a tight angle went wide of the target. Assombalonga was denied by McLaughlin before firing the rebound wide before Tomlin fired a volley wide deep in stoppage time.
Final Score: Posh 2-1 Bradford City
Posh: Olejnik, Ntlhe, Little, Brisley, Bostwick, McCann, Anderson (sub Payne 77min), Newell (sub Ephraim 66min), Tomlin, Assombalonga, Jeffers (sub Swanson 77min). Unused subs: Day, Mendez-Laing, Knight-Percival, Barnett.
Bradford: McLaughlin, Darby, Meredith, Thompson (sub Reid 46min), Yeates, Taylor (sub Gray 46min), Jones, Wells, Bates (sub Connell 88min), McArdle, Doyle. Unused subs: Ripley, Oliver, Kennedy, McHugh.
Attendance: 6,597 (816 Bradford fans)