REPORT: CREWE 2, PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0: Lacklustre Posh are deservedly well beaten

Manager Darren Ferguson told anyone willing to listen that Crewe were a fine footballing side whose results had not matched their performances in League One so far this season.

Maybe his players didn’t listen. For 45 minutes the home side weaved pretty patterns against lacklustre Posh who for once were properly punished for what has become a traditional slow start.

Crewe probably couldn’t believe how easy it was against the table-toppers. They strolled into a two-goal half-team lead and cruised through the second half in second gear.

A first defeat in nine League One games was therefore thoroughly deserved. Staying top was a mere consolation as the gap was narrowed to a point by Hull City.

Posh fielded the expected team in the absence of Nathan Thompson and Jack Taylor with Niall Mason and Louis Reed filling their roles. Posh started with a flat back four and were just passed off the pitch by a slick passing home side.

Crewe should have scored in the sixth minute when Oli Finney headed wide at the far post and they spread the play so efficiently and effectively they found numerous good crossing positions which triggered numerous bouts of desperate defending.

Finney also glanced a header straight at Pym before Pickering drilled just wide from 25 yards.

Crewe certainly merited their lead, although it was a disappointment to see referee Thomas Bramall play a big part in it just before the half hour when he adjudged Reed to have fouled Kirk on the edge of the area. It looked a poor decision and Posh frustration was compounded when Pickering converted direct from the set piece off the inside of a post.

Posh changed shape to wing-backs in the 34th minute, but it made no difference to the pattern of play.

But the second goal was certainly avoidable as Mason’s attemped square pass to Frankie Kent was intercepted by Kirk who ran through to score with ease.

Posh did finally respond, but Sammie Szmodics, who had shot too early when well placed in the 15th minute, delayed his shot too long after bursting into the area and was tackled.

Mason was hauled off at half-time in favour of Frazer Blake-Tracy.

Again the change made no difference. Crewe settled for containment and Posh lacked the skills or the passion to break them down.

There were a couple of half chances in the final 20 minutes or so with Jonson Clarke-Harris inexplicably failing to shoot with the ball settled on his favourite left foot on the edge of the area.

Substitute Mo Eisa also failed to beat home goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen with a close range volley after the keeper had spilled Reece Brown’s long range strike. At least he had followed the initial shot in. It was a rare sign of a forward busting a gut to get on the ball.

But even a consolation goal would have flattered Posh who suffered a collective off day.

Ferguson was so annoyed he stormed off just before the final whistle.

Posh: Christy Pym, Niall Mason (sub Frazer Blake-Tracy, 46 mins), Dan Butler, Frankie Kent, Mark Beevers, Louis Reed (sub Ethan Hamilton, 54 mins), Reece Brown, Joe Ward, Sammie Szmodics (sub Mo Eisa, 70 mins), Siriki Dembele, Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Unused substitutes: Ronnie Edwards, Ryan Broom, Flynn Clarke, Dan Gyollai.

Crewe: Will Jaaskelainen, Perry Ng, Harry Pickering, Ryan Wintle, Luke Offord, Omar Beckles, Tom Lowery, Oli Finney (sub Luke Murphy, 83 mins), Daniel Powell (sub Owen Dale, 76 mins), Charlie Kirk, Mikael Mandron.

Substitutes: Dave Richards, Callum Ainley, Offrande Zanzala, Olly Lancashire, Travis Johnson.

Goals: Crewe - Pickering (29 mins), Kirk (40 mins).

Cautions: None,

Referee: Thomas Bramall 5