Following on from a Wembley victory and Wednesday evenings comfortable 3-0 win against Port Vale it was an afternoon to forget at the Kassam Stadium as Oxford United extended their own play-off hopes with an emphatic 5-0 home victory.
Posh started the game in dominant fashion holding over 75% possession in the first fifteen minutes but failed to make a breakthrough despite headed chances for both Ricky-Jade Jones and Harrison Burrows in that period only for MARK HARRIS to open the scoring for the home side thanks to an 18th minute penalty after Jadel Katongo had felled the Oxford forward.
On the 26th minute Jones had Posh’s best chance of the match hitting the bar from close range following a brilliant run and cross from Ephron Mason-Clark. However, from that moment on Oxford took control and two goals in eight minutes from JOSH MURPHY and RUBEN RODRIGUES saw the U’s go into the half-time break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Darren Ferguson made four changes at half-time seeing Jadel Katongo, Josh Knight, Ephron Mason-Clark and Joel Randall replaced with Romoney Crichlow, Emmanuel Fernandez, David Ajiboye and Jonson Clarke-Harris. The changes did not have the desired effect as within 14 minutes of the second half Posh were 4-0 down, RODRIGUES getting his second of the game.
Posh saw more of the ball in the last 20 minutes and David Ajiboye in particular offered a threat down the right-hand side but it wasn’t to be and a bad day at the office was capped off with an 89th minute fifth for Oxford, arguably the best goal of the game from BILLY BODIN.
Posh Manager Darren Ferguson offered no excuses after the game, taking time to go over to the travelling Posh fans who despite the result remained in the stands until the final whistle.
Posh: Steer, Katongo (sub Crichlow 45min), Burrows, Edwards, Knight (sub Fernandez 45min), Kyprianou, Collins, Mason-Clark (sub Ajiboye 45min), Poku, Randall (sub Clarke-Harris 45min), Jones (sub Mothersille 59min). Unused subs: Bilokapic, De Havilland.
Oxford United: Cumming, Long (c), Brown, McEachran, Harris, Stevens, Goodrham, Rodrigues (sub McGuane 74min), Leigh, Murphy (sub Browne 66min), Dale (sub Bodin 74min). Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, Smyth, Henry
Half-time: Oxford United 3-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Oxford United 5-0 Peterborough United
Attendance: 10,046 (998 Posh fans)
Referee: Andy Davies