Peterborough United couldn't save themselves after defending appallingly and missing good scoring chances

Now they faced an anxious wait to see if Burton Albion could do the job for them in a 3 o’clock kick-off. Yes that’s what it’s come down to for Posh, relying on a favour from the smallest club in the division.

Posh do have two further chances to secure their survival, but how can anyone be confident a team with one win in their last 13 matches will beat even mid-table opponents at the Weston Homes Stadium?

They won’t if they defend as appallingly as they did at Edgeley Park, while also spurning gilt-edged chances at the other end. This game would have finished 6-3 but for the goalkeepers, yet the hosts were comfortable winners courtesy of a Louie Barry hat-trick after falling behind to Harry Leonard’s 14th minute goal.

Posh restored JJ Morgan to their starting line-up after a minor injury and there was also a recall for 17 year-old Bolu Shofowoke on the right wing, Ben Woods returned to the substitutes’ bench, but Peter Kioso and Pemi Aderoju were absent from the matchday squad. Cian Hayes and David Kamara dropped to the substitutes’ bench where they were joined by Jacob Mendy.

County included former Posh players Tayo Edun and Malik Mothersille in a very attacking line-up which included top scorer Kyle Wootton at centre-back. The hosts have a defensive injury crisis which offered Posh some hope.

There was also hope in the speed of Shofowoke who had two early runs at Edun and skinned him both times, and on the second occasion his low cross was converted by Harry Leonard on 14 minutes.

Posh could have been behind by then as Tom Lees, stationed on the left of two centre-backs, was troubled constantly by the pace of Adama Sidibeh. Alex Bass was off his line to block the striker’s ninth minute shot, but when Lees was exposed again a cross from Sidibeh was finished by Barry.

The Posh back four never really got to grips with a lively forward line and to be fair they received little protection from those in front of them, despite the best efforts of Archie Collins who tracked back brilliantly to thwart Mothersille on the half hour.

Bass came to the rescue again with a terrific stop to keep out a goalbound 20-yarder from Josh Stokes just before the break. Posh looked like they could cause issues going the other way, but they didn’t keep hold of possession well enough.

Surprisingly Posh made no changes at half-time so no surprise they were punished three minutes after the re-start. A simple pass behind James Dornelly was enough to free Barry and as no-one bothered to come across to cover the Aston Villa loanee simply passed the ball into the net.

Barry had two chances to complete his hat-trick after galloping into the wide open spaces in and around the Posh defence. He miscontrolled his first opportunity and then, after a mess from David Okagbue, Bass stood up to tall to save.

Posh did enjoy a few minutes of pressure after that with a lucky ricochet off Morgan falling perfectly for Lisbie who failed to beat home ‘keeper Corey Addai. Addai also fumbled a Harley Mills volley, but a breakaway left Barry chasing a loose ball with Collins and he just sauntered pass the midfielder before clinically adding a third goal.

Lisbie muffed a great chance for 3-2 after excellence from Shofowoke and Leonard as Addai blocked a close range shot and the game then drifted to an inevitable conclusion.

There were still defensive horrors to come with Mothersille delivering a weak shot after an Okagbue mistake and sub Tanto Olaofe failing to capitalise on a Collins mishap.

Wootton headed a corner over from close range to stop the Posh goal difference crumbling completely. It was one consolation another worrying afternoon.

Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills (sub Jacob Mendy, 80 mins), Tom Lees, David Okagbue, James Dornelly, Archie Collins, Matt Garbett (sub David Kamara, 65 mins) Kyrell Lisbie (sub Cian Hayes, 80 mins), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (sub Ben Woods, 65 mins), Bolu Shofowoke, Harry Leonard

Unused subs: Bastian Smith, Brandon Khela, Declan Frith.

Stockport: Corey Addai, Tayo Edun, Kyle Wootton, Josh Stokes, Adama Sidibeh (sub Tanto Olaofe, 77 mins), Che Gardner (sub Ben Osborn, 85 mins), Odin Bailey (sub Lewis Bate, 73 mins), Ollie Norwood, Louie Barry (sub Jack Diamond, 73 mins), Ethan Pye, Malik Mothersille (sub Lewis Fiorini, 77 mins).

Unused subs: Ben Hinchcliffe, Christy Grogan.

Posh goals: Leonard (14 mins).

Stockport goals: Barry (28 mins, 48 & 64 mins).

Posh cautions: Mills (foul).

Stockport cautions: Bailey (foul), Edun (foul).

Referee: Jacob Miles 7.

Attendance: 9.432 (504 Posh).