Posh Suffer Horror Second Half Showing
They say lightening shouldn't strike twice, but unfortunately the Ricoh Arena has some kind of spooky goings on for Peterborough United as for the second year in a row they were 2-0 up at half-time and conspired to lose 3-2.After a 15-minute delay to kick-off due to a traffic accident outside of the Ricoh Arena, the game got underway and the home side had an early chance after an over-hit pass by Bostwick caught out Anderson, Murphy nipped in, but his shot was blocked by Bostwick.
Souleymane Coulibaly tested Reice Charles-Cook in the Sky Blues goal with a curler from the edge of the box, but it was straight at the keeper who made a routine stop.
A strong burst down the right by Jermaine Anderson created a half-chance for Washington, but he guided his shot wide of the near post.
The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes and it was another excellent patient Posh move, Taylor into Washington, he attacked the full-back and cut the ball back for Jermaine ANDERSON who fired home with his left-foot from ten-yards.
Washington guided a Smith cross just wide of the far post as Posh continued to play some excellent football in and around the final third.
Washington fired wide from the edge of the box after an intelligent lay-off by Taylor as Martin went into the referee's notebook for a late tackle on Washington in the build-up.
An excellent raking pass from Taylor picked out Washington on 25 minutes, but after taking down the ball superbly on his chest, his low shot was parried by Charles-Cook.
Forrester then sent a curler wide of the target moments later and then Washington fired inches over the top after another ball over the top caught the defence cold.
Alnwick was well placed to deny Fortune as the referee played an advantage as Elder tugged back Lameiras off the ball.
The Posh shot-stopper made a routine stop to deny Fleck but moments later he was rooted to the spot as Armstrong cut inside and sent a low shot against the base of the post.
Posh made it 2-0 on 36 minutes and what a goal it was too. Washington with some superb hold-up play to take in a Santos pass, he found Anderson who picked out OZTUMER 30-yards from goal and the Turkish Messi did the rest, one touch out of his feet and then a stunning strike past Charles-Cook.
Alnwick did well to beat away an Armstrong shot after a clever reverse pass by Fleck as the Sky Blues tried to respond.
On the stroke of half-time, Washington was inches away from making it 3-0 after a great pass from Forrester, but he fired wide of the target.
Coventry manager Tony Mowbray made two changes at the break with Conor Thomas and Jim O'Brien introduced from the bench.
Posh were forced into a change of their own on 48 minutes as a groggy Forrester was replaced by Jack Collison.
Alnwick produced a fine stop to push a fierce Fleck shot onto the post, but he got no luck from the rebound as it fell kindly into the path of VINCELOT who slotted the ball into an empty net to halve the deficit.
Anderson fired wide from 30-yards but it was no respite as the hosts came forward in waves. Murphy fired wide after cutting inside from the left as the Sky Blues went close.
Washington was denied by Charles-Cook after an intelligent reverse-pass by Oztumer as Posh came close to adding a third. Armstrong fired a free-kick into the wall and then O'Brien was a whisker away from 25-yards with Alnwick at full stretch.
Alnwick produced a superb stop to deny Armstrong on 78 minutes as he got in behind the Posh back-line as again Coventry piled forward at will.
On 80 minutes, the hosts found their leveller and it came on the counter attack with Posh piling bodies forward. Murphy with his pace and power did the donkey work and his cut back found ARMSTRONG who made no mistake from 10-yards.
Murphy fired inches wide of the near post after cutting inside from the left as Coventry again caught Posh on the break.
On 87 minutes, Posh were undone again as the ball was fed into the feet of ARMSTRONG, he twisted and turned and coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Alnwick. It was 3-2 to the hosts after Posh were 2-0 up last season and unfortunately lightening has struck twice.
Armstrong saw a shot beaten away by Alnwick moments later as match edged towards stoppage time. Washington saw a shot saved in six minutes of added time as Posh pressed for a late equaliser.
Coventry: Charles-Cook, Stokes (sub Haynes 75min), Vincelot, Fleck, Lameriras (sub Thomas 46min), Armstrong, Phillips, Ricketts, Martin, Murphy, Fortune (sub O'Brien 46min). Unused subs: Burge, Tudgay, Harries, Kent.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Taylor, Bostwick, Oztumer, Almeida Santos, Washington, J. Anderson (sub Vassell 82min), Coulibaly (sub Angol 55min), Elder, Forrester (sub Collison 48min). Unused subs: Henry, Beautyman, Davey, Fox.
Half-time: Coventry City 0-2 Peterborough United
Full-time: Coventry City 3-2 Peterborough United
Attendance: 11,853