Peterborough United made a mockery of League One positions by outclassing the leaders at London Road

Posh, who started the day 23rd and remain in the relegation zone, beat the table-toppers 3-0 with another outstanding all-round display from players transformed by a change of management.

First goals for the club from Ben Woods and Brandon Khela either side of a Kyrell Lisbie strike delivered an emphatic success which might have play-off contenders, never mind relegation candidates, feeling ill at ease.

Posh made the expected change to their starting line-up with Jimmy-Jay Morgan replacing Matthew Garbett who has been on international duty with New Zealand. Another Posh international David Okagbue was also absent from the matchday squad. Youth team skipper Lucca Mendonca was on the bench as was fit-again winger Declan Frith, but Klaidi Lolos missed out.

Former Posh striker Malik Mothersille was on the substitutes’ bench for County.

Who was top and who was almost bottom was hard to figure in the first 45 minutes as Posh deservedly moved into a 2-0 lead. They controlled possession, stayed patient and caused plenty of problems for the visiting defence.

Posh scored from their first entry into the County penalty area. Morgan’s first-time pass from inside his own half to Peter Kioso set the full-back galloping towards goal. His cross reached Harry Leonard whose lay-off was finished first time by the imperious Woods.

County were happy to launch the ball towards powerful striker Kyle Wootton and he caused some early problems, but Posh generally bossed the action with the precision and confidence of their passing.

Chances were few and far between though with Morgan shooting over from 25 yards and Archie Collins shooting further over from further out.

And when the second Posh goal arrived it came from out of the blue. Abraham Odoh did the groundwork and when the ball fell for Morgan his shot was too hot for County ‘keeper Ben Hinchliffe to handle and Lisbie was on hand to steer home the rebound eight minutes before the break.

The second goal persuaded County to up their tempo and they pinned Posh back for most of the rest of the half, a sign of things to come perhaps. Well for 15 minutes of the second half at least.

County sent on a second striker in Nathan Lowe at the break and changed shape to wing-backs, a system they are very familiar with. It almost paid off instantly when Lowe found himself free in the area only to guide a tame header straight at Posh ‘keeper Alex Bass.

It was important Posh weathered that mini-storm and they did it comfortably with star man Jack Diamond resorting to long shots well before he was substituted. Future Ballon D’Or winner Mothersille was sent on and threatened to create rather than score, but Posh were the far superior footballing side and found a third goal they deserved 13 minutes from time.

Collins started it with an impressive ping to the left wing where Lisbie was waiting. He picked up out the marauding Woods who slipped as he shot, but the ball travelled across goal for substitute Brandon Khela to finish expertly to bag is first Posh goal and indeed his first Football League goal.

That strike knocked the stuffing out of County and Frith went close twice after coming on. Bass then preserved his clean sheet with a fine save from Jayden Fevrier in the final minute.

It’s now four games under new boss Luke Williams which have yielded, four wins, three clean sheets and two League One wins with an aggregate success of 8-0. He cleary is the manager with the Midas touch.

Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills, Tom Lees, Tom O’Connor, Peter Kioso, Archie Collins, Ben Woods, Abraham Odoh (sub Brandon Khela, 66 mins), Kyrell Lisbie (sub Donay O’Brien-Brady, 83 mins), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (sub Declan Frith, 83 mins), Harry Leonard (sub Gustav Lindgren, 74 mins).

Unused subs: Vicente Reyes, Carl Johnston, Lucca Mendonca

Stockport: Ben Hinchcliffe, Corey O’Keefe (sub Jack Hunt, 65 mins), Joseph Olowu, Kyle Wootton, Beno Andresson (sub Nathan Lowe, 46 mins), Owen Moxon (sub Malik Mothersille, 65 mins), Callum Connolly, Ethan Pye, Callum Camps (sub Jayden Frevier, 46 mins), Jack Diamond (sub Che Gardner, 82 mins), Odin Bailey.

Unused subs: Corey Addai, Christy Grogan.

GOALS: Posh – Woods (6 mins), Lisbie (37 mins), Khela (77 mins).

CAUTIONS: Posh – Leonard (foul).

Stockport – Connolly (foul)

REFEREE: Matthew Russell 7.

ATTENDANCE: 6,681 (574 County).