Posh carved out multiple opportunities against Premier League new-boys Luton Town, but suffer 3-1 defeat at St. George’s Park.
Peterborough United suffered their first pre-season friendly defeat, but there were plenty of positives to take out of the performance against Premier League new-boys Luton Town at St. George’s Park as Darren Ferguson’s men played some excellent football and carved out multiple opportunities in front of goal.
The Hatters, who won the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, fielded a very strong side which included summer signing Mads Anderson and started the stronger of the two sides with Elijah Adebayo striking the crossbar from close-range.
Posh grew into the contest and went close on the quarter-hour mark as Joel Randall sent a curling effort over the bar after good work from Ephron Mason-Clark and Kabongo Tshimanga. Alfie Doughty saw a free-kick strike the wall at the other end while Adebayo was denied by a fine stop from the trialist goalkeeper.
However, he the keeper was beaten on the half hour mark as Carlton Morris powered a header home at the back post from a deep centre. Randall was somehow denied by a fine stop from James Shea before Posh had the chance to level the scores from the spot after referee Josh Smith spotted a foul on Frankie Kent from a corner kick.
Tshimanga stepped up but saw his spot-kick clip the outside of the post and rebound to safety. The striker poked wide after a good ball from Charlie O’Connell on the stroke of half-time. Luton changed their entire XI at the break, while Posh made no changes.
Archie Collins struck the post with a rasping drive from 25-yards after good work from Mason-Clark before Ferguson made his 11 changes on the hour mark. It didn’t take long for Jonson CLARKE-HARRIS to level the scores for Posh, doing well to get across the front post and guide a low Kai Corbett cross into the bottom corner.
Kwame Poku saw a shot blocked from a Joe Tomlinson cross before the Hatters got their noses in front with a stunning goal from John McAtee who curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner. Rob Edwards’ men extended their advantage three minutes later when Dion Pereira headed home at the back post.
Emmanuel Fernandez volleyed wide from a Corbett free-kick on 77 minutes, Corbett fired over moments later following a good move involving Hector Kyprianou and James Dornelly before Clarke-Harris was superbly repelled by Matt Macey.
Ricky-Jade Jones saw an effort smothered by the keeper late on with Clarke-Harris firing wide from 25-yards. Darren Ferguson said: “I was really pleased with both sets of players, those that played 60 minutes and those that played half an hour, we played some excellent football and created so many chances.
“Of course, we can do better for a couple of their goals, one is a superb strike, but on the whole, I was happy, we got into some good positions, our movement was excellent and we caused a Premier League side a lot of problems,” Ferguson said.
Joe Taylor featured for 45 minutes for Luton while Ronnie Edwards was rested as he featured for England during the summer and the club are managing his load.
Posh 1st 60 minutes: Trialist, Crichlow, Kent, Burrows, O’Connell, Ajiboye, Collins, Fuchs, Randall, Mason-Clark, Tshimanga.
Posh last 30: Trialist, Dornelly, Fernandez, Knight, Tomlinson, De Havilland, Kyprianou, Poku, Clarke-Harris, Corbett, Jones.
Luton 1st half: Shea, Potts, Onyedinma, Anderson, Burke, Doughty, Clark, Berry, Campbell, Morris, Adebayo.
Luton 2nd half: Macey, Nelson, Watson, Johnson, Bateson, Francis-Clarke, Pereira, Odell-Bature, Woodrow, Taylor.