Nightmare start for one of Peterborough United's star performers as the whole team were outclassed on opening day

The goalkeeper, who has served Posh magnificently since his arrival and was one of last year’s players of the season, had a torrid start to his league season as Posh went down 2-0 to Bradford City at Valley Parade on Saturday.

The ‘keeper was found lacking for both goals that consigned Posh to defeat on the opening day of the season. For those keeping track, Posh have now won just one of their last 16 matches in the league.

It always looked a tough assignment on paper and so it proved as Posh were outmuscled, outfought and outclassed. The gulf between the teams was obvious as Posh’s lightweight side struggled to land any punches. There were flashes and half chances but Posh failed to use their obvious pace advantage to create Bradford the problems they were capable of.

To make matters worse, Posh had to finish the match with ten men after David Okagbue was given his marching orders for two bookable offences.

Illness prevented Luke Williams from naming an unchanged line-up from the opening day win over Bristol Rovers. Owura Edwards was sidelined, which allowed Ethan Williams to start on the left wing just two days after arriving at the club. Last season’s vice-captain Carl Johnston was given the armband instead of last week’s captain Alex Bass as this year’s roles continue to not be clearly defined.

Posh were put on the backfoot from the start and never got off it and with just under 10 minutes gone, Harry Leonard had to head Macaulay Gillesphey’s goal-bound header off the line.

With the hosts dominating the ball, they didn’t have to wait long for their next chances and Posh were grateful for Tom O’Connor for keeping them in the game. As he cutout an excellent low cross, right in front of goal from Ibou Touray as well then as sprinting across to take the ball off Will Swan as he rounded Alex Bass, who had rashly charged out of his goal. In between that, Callum Connolly had hit a stunning strike from 40 yards that crashed back off the crossbar.

The best Posh could muster was a low effort from Williams that needed saving but wouldn’t trouble a goalkeeper at any level and a Harrison Jones chance, where he had space on the edge of the box, but shanked an effort high into the stands.

Bradford quickly reasserted the momentum and created a double chance when Neufville fed Swan on the left side of the box but he could only poke a weak effort on goal. When Posh quickly gave possession back, Neufville went himself this time and Bass had to dive to his right to push the ball away from danger.

There was a bright spark for Posh in the second half with more of the ball in the opening exchanges and finally openings for Bolu Shofowoke to show his pace. That didn’t last long though as Bass was soon picking the ball out of his own net after his own error.

In the 53rd minute, Callum Connolly sent in an out-swinging corner, Bass came a long way off his line, missed the ball with a weak punch and there was Gillesphy to power a header into the back of the net.

Posh could have pulled one back after the hour mark when Shofowoke’s low cross caused chaos in the box but a diverted Harry Leonard effort struck the top of the crossbar.

That moment was fleeting and the hosts quickly seized control. With 15 to go, they deservedly doubled their lead when Neufville’s driven cross found its way through the diving body of Bass to give substitute Nick Powell, barely a minute after he came on, a tap-in.

Posh never looked like getting back into the game but all hopes came to an end when David Okagbue was shown the red card by Premier League official Tony Harrington with ten minutes to go. Callum Connolly stooped his head slightly but a reckless kick from the Posh centre-half caught him and the referee had little choice but to send him off.

Posh – Alex Bass, Harley Mills, David Okagbue, Tom O’Connor (sub Evan Weir, 61 mins), James Dornelly, Carl Johnston, Brandon Khela (sub Brandon Khela, 76 mins), Harrison Jones (sub Liam Kelly, 61 mins), Bolu Shofowoke, Ethan Williams (sub Vernon Masara, 61 mins), Harry Leonard

Not used: Collin Andeng-Ndi, Evan Weir, Liam Kelly, Ben Woods, Vernon Masara, Lucca Mendonca, Chris Conn-Clarke

Bradford City – Jon McCracken, Ibou Touray, Macaulay Gillesphey , Callum Connolly (sub Henry Cartwright, 87 mins), Josh Neufville, Jake Beesley (sub Nick Powell, 75 mins), Antoni Sarcevic, Aden Baldwin, Matthew Pennington, Will Swan (sub Bobby Pointon, 46 mins), Kayden Jackson (sub Adam Phillips, 55 mins)

Not used: Cameron Dawson, Joe Wright, George Lapslie

Bookings: Posh – Weir (dissent)

Bradford – Jackson (foul), Phillips (foul)

Red cards: Posh – Okagbue (85 mins)

Goals: Gillesphey (54 mins), Powell (75 mins)

Referee: Tony Harrington

Attendance: 19,871 (976 Posh)