The hiding Peterborough United received was not reflected in the final scoreline at Bradford City

This was a mullering, a shellacking, a massacre, all hidden by the final scoreline. Only the brilliance of goalkeeper Alex Bass, after his blunder presented the home side with an early lead, some wayward finishing, the woodwork and some desperate defending saved another depleted Posh side from a far heavier defeat. Whereas Posh defied some remarkable stats to win at Mansfield Town in midweek, there was no escaping at Valley Parade as the home side rained 29 shots on the goal protected by Bass.

The play-off chasers, whose form has dipped in recent weeks, were dominant from start to finish, but managed just a goal at the start of each half from Bobby Pointon and Kayden Jackson, Jackson, a former Posh transfer target, was scoring for the first time this season.

In truth a suspicion it wasn’t to be Posh’s day arrived before kick-off when key centre-back Tom Lees dropped out of the named starting line-up. A picture soon appeared of a 35 year-old on crutches.

Posh had originally made one change to their starting line-up with Brandon Khela, a Bradford City loanee last season, starting in midfield in place of Donay O’Brien-Brady. Peter Kioso was absent from the matchday squad because of illness. Lucca Mendonca replaced him on the bench.

George Nevett stepped up into the side on his 20th birthday with Joe Andrews taking his place on the bench, also on his 20th birthday.

And who would be a goalkeeper. Bass, the hero of Mansfield a few days earlier, handed the hosts an opening goal on four minutes. A deep cross was lobbed back into the Posh area where Bass chose to punch rather than catch with disastrous consequences. He got no distance or elevation leaving Pointon the easiest of chances to score.

And how Bradford didn’t add to their tally before the break became an embarrassing question for their forwards. Chances came and went at regular intervals as the lack of pace in the Posh back four was routinely exposed. Bass saved well from Jackson, Archie Collins delivered a tremendous block to thwart Pointon who had the goal at his mercy, and David Okagbue did the same to deny Max Power.

Antoni Sarcevic went clean through and lobbed Bass without hitting the target and thoughts did start to wonder towards a second successive smash and grab result.

Posh looked okay when they got their passing going. Cian Hayes kept driving his side forward and his cross was clipped by Kyrell LIsbie, but saved by big Sam Walker in the City goal.

And it looked like Posh should have been awarded the clearest of penalties four minutes before the break. Hayes beat Aden Baldwin who appeared to trip the Posh winger, but a referee normally found in the Championship awarded a corner with TV replays proving him right.

Posh withdrew Jimmy-Jay Morgan at the break and replaced him with Mendonca. Posh essentially played with five at the back, but no obvious link between midfielders and forwards and any plans for containment were ruined inside four minutes when Jackson headed home a cross from impressive wing-back Josh Neufville.

The siege on the Posh goal continued. Jenson Metcalfe curled a free kick straight onto to post and Bass made a miraculous save onto the crossbar to keep Pointon out from close range. Substitute Ethan Wheatley could have scored with his first touch, but Bass was out quickly to save. The keeper also turned a close range header from Sarcevic to one side.

Posh, who have had a far more demanding week than their opposition, looked out on their feet well before the final whistle, although they did force Walker into one more save. He spilled Carl Johnston’s effort, but substitute Pemi Aderoju couldn’t force the rebound home.

They were two of the four shots on goal Posh managed in the whole mismatch.

Posh: Alex Bass, Carl Johnston, Tom Lees, David Okagbue, James Dornelly, Brandon Khela (sub Donay O’Brien-Brady, 83 mins), Archie Collins, Kyrell Lisbie, Jimmy-Jay Morgan (sub Lucca Mendonca, 46 mins), Cian Hayes (sub Declan Frith, 62 mins), Harry Leonard (sub Pemi A|deroju, 62 mins).

Unused subs: Bastian Smith, Joe Andrews, Patryk Sykut,

Bradford City: Sam Walker, Ibou Touray (sub Matthew Pennington, 48 mins), Aden Baldwin, Curtis Tilt, Jenson Metcalfe, Bobby Pointon, Max Power (sub Harrison Ashby, 93 mins), Tyreik Wright, Antoni Sarcevic (sub Lee Evans, 72 mins), Josh Neufville, Kayden Jackson (sub Ethan Wheatley, 72 mins).

Unused subs: Joe Hilton, Stephen Humphrys, Paul Mullin.

Bradford City goals: Pointon (4 mins), Jackson (49 mins).

Posh cautions: Khela (foul), Morgan (unsportsmanlike conduct), Leonard (foul).

Bradford City cautions: Tilt (foul), Wright (foul), Power (delaying the re-start)>

Referee: Sam Allison 7.

Attendance: 19,389 (1,066 Posh).