The least surprising defeat of the season for Peterborough United as regular failings re-surfaced

The annual defeat at Adams Park duly arrived, despite Posh daring to take the lead early in the second-half, with defensive frailties playing a big part along with a huge deflection and the kamikaze habit of conceding goals in quick succession – three of them in 10 minutes in this game, all of them to substitute Richard Kone. The last came from the penalty spot after a senseless handball from Emmanuel Fernandez which led to a second yellow card and a lonely trudge off the pitch.

It was quite the turnaround as Posh had looked the better side either side of the interval. A tap-in from Ricky-Jade Jones should have been followed by a volleyed goal for Malik Mothersille before a back four crumbled courtesy of terrible marking and a failure to close players down which might explain the number of deflected goals Posh have conceded this season.

Posh recalled Archie Collins to central midfield and dropped Ryan De Havilland to the substitutes’ bench in the only change from the side that started last weekend’s 3-3 extravaganza. Sam Curtis and Cian Hayes came back to the bench with David Ajiboye, a scorer in this fixture last season, Tyler Young and David Kamara dropping out of the matchday squad.

There was a boost for Posh in the Wycombe line-up as former player Kieran Sadlier – he played once – was absent. He has an annoyingly successful record against his old club.

Those expecting a high-tempo exciting game between two free-scoring sides would have been disappointed, in the first-half at least. Wycombe were by far the livelier in the opening exchanges with a long punt forward from goalkeeper Franco Ravizolli breaching the most porous defence in the division, but goalkeeper Jed Steer was out quickly to deny Gareth McCleary on 10 minutes.

An earlier free kick from Dan Harvie had whistled past a post and conceding set plays in dangerous areas became an issue against a team with two giant centre-backs. One of them Caleb Taylor headed a free kick just wide, before Posh started to get into the game. Switching Jones to the left wing while moving Mothersille centrally helped.

Two Mothersille crosses from inside the area needed careful defending and Ravizzoli reacted well to ensure Jack Grimmer didn’t score an own goal from a Poku cross. Ravizolli also stood tall to keep out Joel Randall’s follow-up. Just before the break a long throw from Jones was allowed to reach the far post, but no Posh player was in the vicinity.

A sign of the carnage to come arrived in the first minute of the second-half when a long throw caused unnecessary panic in the Posh penalty area with Oscar Wallin eventually hacking a Cameron Humphreys shot to safety.

But on 50 minutes Posh struck. Kwame Poku did the donkey work down the right wing and his low cross was deflected neatly into the path of Jones who couldn’t miss.

Posh now attacked effectively. A superb Collins was cross was well defended by Grimmer and a superb cross from Jack Sparkes was sidefooted wide on the volley by Mothersille.

One goal was never likely to be enough for this Posh set up and so it proved. Kone was given all the room he wanted to volley at goal on 64 minutes. In truth it was a tame effort that hit Wallin before rolling in as Steer was about to save. Predictably Posh then collapsed. Steer saved well from Leahy, but from the throw-in a terrible defensive header by Jones fell at a Wycombe player’s feet. Posh were again unfortunate as the volley at goal was mishit, but Kone beat Wallin to the looping ball and directed it past Steer.

Posh were now rocking hopelessly and the inexplicable decision by captain Fernandez to punch a right-wing cross was rightly punished by a penalty and a second yellow card.

Collins came close to pulling a goal back 12 minutes from time with a 25 yarder than hit the Posh before Wycombe cruised home. They didn’t play like a team now on an unbeaten 10-game run, but then they didn’t need to. Just stay patient and wait for this defence to cough up opportunities will do the trick for most teams at this level.

Posh: Jed Steer, James Dornelly (sub Sam Curtis 74 mins), Jack Sparkes, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oscar Wallin (sub Abraham Odoh, 82 mins), Archie Collins, Donay O’Brien-Brady (sub Ryan De Havilland, 46 mins), Joel Randall, Kwame Poku (sub Cian Hayes (82 mins), Ricky-Jade Jones, Malik Mothersille (sub George Nevett, 74 mins).

Unused subs: Brad Ihionvien, Nicholas Bilokapic,

Wycombe: Franco Ravizzoli, Jack Grimmer, Daniel Harvie, Josh Scowen (sub Tyreeq Bakinson, 81 mins), Joe Low, Aaron Morley (sub Matt Butcher 89 mins), Caleb Taylor, Fred Onyedinma (sub Richard Kone (61 mins), Cameron Humphreys (sub Luke Leahy, 61 mins), Dan Udoh, Garath McCleary (sub Gideon Kodua, 80 mins).

Unused subs: Shamal George, Declan Skura

GOALS: Posh – Jones (50 mins).

Wycombe – Kone (64 mins, 67 mins & 71 mins).

RED CARD: Fernandez (second yellow, handball).

CAUTIONS: Posh – O’Brien-Brady (foul), Fernandez (foul), Collins (foul), Randall (aggressive attitude).

Wycombe – Morley (aggressive attitude).

REFEREE: Lee Swabey 5.

ATTENDANCE: 4,345 (447 Posh),