FULL-TIME: Sunderland 1, Peterborough United 0: Controversial penalty decision sends Posh home pointless

Referee Scott Oldham decided Jack Taylor’s challenge on Denver Hume was worthy of a spot-kick, but it’s fair to assume Posh manager Darren Ferguson disagreed.

“That’s an ****** joke of a decision,” he roared after Grant Leaditter had converted the spotkick.

Posh looked to have weathered the Sunderland storm which blew strongest at the start of the second-half. They came close to opening the scoring midway through the second-half when Louis Reed rattled the crossbar with a 20-yard free kick.

Reed almost levelled with a snapshot from 20 yards in the final minute, but his effort was deflected just past a post. Minutes earlier Jonson Clarke-Harris had seen a header from a Reed corner kicked off the line.

Posh will also rue not taking advantage of a bright start as they slipped to a second defeat in three League One matches.

Posh made one change from the starting line-up that beat Fleetwood last week with Siriki Dembele replacing Mo Eisa up front.

And Dembele’s early excellence should have led to a Posh goal in the fourth minute. His 25 yard shot was spilled by home ‘keeper Lee Burge, but Clarke-Harris delivered a weak and wide shot from the rebound.

Sunderland went straight down the other end and penetrated the right-hand side of the Posh defence, only for Chris Maguire to shoot tamely when free in the area, enabling Dan Butler to clear.

It was an entertaining opening and Clarke-Harris saw a 25 yard free kick saved more spectaularly than necessary before Sammie Szmodics slid in to meet Dan Butler’s fine left-wing cross only to divert his shot straoght at Burge.

Dembele wreaked havoc in that opening spell, but Sunderland, helped by a strong wind and heavy rain at their backs, gradually started to control possession. Their wing-backs found plenty of space, particularly behind Ryan Broom on the right, but failed to find a precise cross.

The home side did sling plenty of crosses into the Posh penalty area, but three visiting centre-backs won the important duels, including from several well-flighted corners. Nathan Thompson was outstanding in the first period.

Sunderland were forced into a first-half change when Maguire picked up an injury. Aiden O’Brien replaced him.

Sunderland charaged out of the blocks in the second-half and came close to scoring several times in the opening 10 minutes.

Pym did well to block a Hume shot with his feet and then made a terrific stop to thwart Josh Scowen. Hume also fired over when well-placed, while Charlie Wyke headed a free-kick over the bar.

When Posh did break out Szmodics tested Burge from distance before Reed smacked a 25 yard free kick against the crossbar after Dembele’s skills had won the set-piece.

But any thoughts Posh had of going home with a hard-earned point were dashed by Oldham’s late match-defining decision.

Posh: Christy Pym, Nathan Thompson, Mark Beevers, Frankie Kent, Louis Reed, Jack Taylor, Ryan Broom (sub Joe Ward, 71 mins), Dan Butler, Sammie Szmodics (sub Ricky-Jade Jones, 86 mins), Siriki Dembele, Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Unused substitutes: Dan Gyollai, Mo Eisa, Reece Brown, Ethan Hamilton, Niall Mason.

Sunderland: Lee Burge, Tom Flanagan, Jordan Willis, Bailey Wright, Luke O’Nien, Denver Hume, Grant Leadbitter, Josh Scowen, Chris Maguire (sub Aiden O’Brien, 39 mins), Lynden Gooch (sub Conor Mclaughlin 90 + 3 mins), Charlie Wyke (sub Danny Graham, 71 mins).

Unused subs: Remi Matthews, Will Grigg, Jack Diamond, Arbenit Xhemalji.

Cautions: Sunderland - Scowen (foul), O’Brien (delaying the restart).

Goal: Sunderland - Leadbitter (pen, 80 mins).

Referee: Scott Oldham 6.