A defeat that didn't tell Peterborough United fans much they didn't already know about the likely struggle ahead
Peterborough United ensured expectations weren’t raised too much for the competitive season ahead, which is probably a good thing.
Harsh possibly as they faced a sleek and physically superior Championship side in West Bromwich Albion and only lost 2-0, but the gulf between this Posh team and their visitors was far greater than that.
Posh tried hard enough, but couldn’t lay a glove on ‘The Baggies’ who won with two second-half goals from Aune Heggebo and Barney Stewart. Posh had no shots of note just to emphasise the summer-long need for some quality and defensive solidity.
If this was the likely starting line-up for the opening competitive match of the 2026-27 season it rather surprisingly included transfer-listed forward Chris Conn-Clarke and not summer midfield signing Harrison Jones.
Teenage Academy graduate Lucca Mendonca was selected as centre-back alongside David Okagbue in the continued absence of Tom O’Connor and Sam Hughes.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan, a loan star at Posh last season, was in the starting line-up for ‘The Baggies’, and he was very prominent in the first half by leading the press and finding pockets of space in between defenders.
Morgan’s first tussle with Alex Bass went the way of the Posh goalkeeper who was off his line to make a saving tackle with his hands. Morgan also headed wide when well placed as ‘The Baggies’ failed to capitalise on their domination of possession and their superior movement and passing ability.
Posh defended okay with Mendonca making a couple of key tackles. They were pulled about a bit by the visitors, but Bass was largely untroubled.
Posh only enjoyed occasional moments of promise going forward. Brandon Khela moved through his gears on one occasion and wide men Owura Edwards and Bolu Shofowoke were able to deliver a couple of crosses which came to nought.
But ‘The Baggies’ took less than three second-half minutes to open the scoring. Edwards gave possession away and two passes later Heggebo had converted a low cross from Isaac Price.
Posh responded by making two changes as trialist Wayna Marcal was given another chance, possibly his last one, to impress and Carl Johnston was given another run out in central midfield.
Morgan disappeared midway through the half at the same time as Posh sent on Jones and Harley Mills, but the game just drifted rather aimlessly until a poor pass by Bass was intercepted with the ‘keeper forced to make a fine tackle with his feet to keep the deficit to one.
Not for long though as Khela’s ambitious back pass struck teammate Okagbue enabling substitute Barney Stewart to finish into the corner with under 20 minutes to go.
And that was pretty much that after 90 minutes that told Posh fans very little that they didn’t already know. A long struggle ahead looks the only possible outcome, unless a new player cavalry arrives.
Posh: Bass, Dornelly, Okagbue, Mendonca, Weir (sub Mills, 68 mins), Khela, Woods (sub Johnston, 55 mins), Edwards (sub Marcal, 55, mins), Conn-Clarke (sub Jones, 68 mins), Shofowoke, Leonard. Unused subs: Andeng Ndi, Jones, Sykut, Abbey, Fox, Kamara.
West Brom: O’Leary, Galves. Phillips, Campbell, Styles, Whitwell, Diakite, Molumby, Price, Morgan, Heggebo. Subs used: Johnston, Townsend, Stewart, Williams, Mowatt, Crowther, Bostock.
WBA goals: Heggebo (48 mins), Stewart (72 mins).
WBA cautions: Malumby (foul).
Referee: Josh Smith 8
Attendance: 2,454 (937 West Brom).