Washington At The Double
Peterborough United are into round two of the Emirates FA Cup after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium in this all-League One tie.It was striker Conor Washington, a man who was given a ringing endorsement by manager Graham Westley in mid-week, netted twice to take his goal tally to five for the campaign with Jermaine Anderson adding a late third.
Of course, for Anderson it was a sweet moment after the disappointment of the disallowed goal at the Pirelli in the League a month ago and his celebrations this time were not cut short as he received the adulation from a healthy Posh crowd.
The home side came close to an early breakthrough as a short corner routine created a bit of panic in the Posh box, John Mousinho hooking the ball wide of the post.
Jon Taylor fired wide at the other end with a powerful drive on seven minutes while the lively El Khayati twisted and turned inside the box before curling wide of the far post.
The same Burton player tested Alnwick with a low drive from 20-yards on the quarter hour mark as Burton, making the most of the conditions, continued to cause a few problems.
Lee Angol saw a shot blocked after good hold-up play by Conor Washington - Chris Forrester finding the rebound well wide from 30-yards.
An excellent run from Washington saw him burst past Edwards, but his stinging left-footed effort was well gathered by the Brewers goalkeeper.
Butcher headed over the bar from a decent Edwards cross before Posh were forced into a substitution as Zakuani was forced off with a head injury, Michael Smith his replacement.
Alnwick produced a fine stop to deny the marauding left-back Binnom-Williams as the game moved into the final five minutes of the half.
On 41 minutes, Posh found the breakthrough as a superb pass from substitute Smith picked out WASHINGTON and he coolly slotted the ball past Matthews and into the back of the net.
Alnwick was well placed to deny the lively Duffy on 43 minutes as he breezed past Almeida Santos on the edge of the box.
The Posh shot-stopper produced another fine save, this time from point blank range to palm over an Edwards header from close-range after a mistake by Jermaine Anderson.
Moments later a glorious pass from Angol picked out Washington in the left channel, his first two touches were superb, but as the goalkeeper advanced, his lob on the stretch went just wide of the target.
The hosts made a double change on 55 minutes with Stuart Beavon and Aurelien Joachim introduced from the bench.
On 57 minutes, Posh were a whisker away from making it 2-0, Jon Taylor with a strong run and his effort from 30-yards flicked off the head of Mousinho and looped towards the top corner, Matthews using all of his frame to tip the ball onto the top of the crossbar.
Posh made a change on 62 minutes with Andrew Fox replacing Oztumer. Fox's first introduction was to send over a superb corner onto the head of Taylor, but his powerful header was saved by Matthews with Washington firing the rebound over under pressure.
Mousinho headed wide of the near post from a right-wing set-piece as Burton pressed for the leveller.
However, it was Posh who got the second goal, WASHINGTON anticipating a poor back header back towards keeper Matthews from Edwards, the striker stabs the ball around the keeper and taps the ball into an empty net.
Washington then created a decent shooting opportunity for Angol on the edge of the box but he fired over the bar.
Alnwick did well to smother a deflected Beavon effort on 79 minutes while Duffy fired over the bar after twisting and turning in the penalty box.
On 85 minutes, Posh killed the tie with a third goal, Elder and Taylor linking superbly down the left, the former crossing into the box and Jermaine ANDERSON was there to sweep home to make it 2 in 2 for the midfielder and after the disappointment of his disallowed goal at the Pirelli Stadium in the league, a sweet moment for the youngster.
As the tie moved into five minutes of stoppage time, boss Westley brought on for Jack Baldwin for his first appearance in a senior side for 371 days.
However, his own moment was spoiled as within a couple of minutes he was shown a straight red card for a high challenge - his first and only real involvement in proceedings.
Burton: Matthews, Edwards, Mousinho, Akins (sub Beavon 55min), El Khayati, Butcher, Thiele (sub Joachim 55min), Duffy, Binnom-Williams, Palmer (sub Reilly 70min), Flanagan. Unused subs: McLaughlin, Charles, Slade, Austin.
Posh: Alnwick, Bostwick, Zakuani (sub Smith 35min), Almeida Santos, Elder, Forrester, J. Anderson, Taylor, Oztumer (sub Fox 62min), Washington, Angol (sub Baldwin 90min). Unused subs: Henry, Maddison, Beautyman, Coulibaly.
Half-time: Burton Albion 0-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 2,517
Full-time: Burton Albion 0-3 Peterborough United