Welcome back to the real Peterborough United who delivered a five-star display for their new boss

This 5-0 win over AFC Wimbledon at the Weston Homes Stadium was so impressive on so many levels, never mind the fact that it was achieved by the team who were bottom of the table and who had not scored more than two goals in any League One game this season. And they’d only scored two on two occasions.

Fast, attacking football making great use of wide areas and attacking full-backs. Add classy and gritty midfielders and a rock solid defence as well as a reliable goalkeeper, this was a throwback to the best Posh teams of the Darragh MacAnthony era. The big boss would have been delighted with what he saw, especially the two late goals scored by Gustav Lindgren, a striker he has continued to champion in some pretty bleak moments.

A rejuvenated Harry Leonard had scored two goals in the first 20 minutes, including a penalty, and there was also a first EFL goal for winger Kyrell Lisbie, a player who never stands still helping him become a first fans’ favourite.

The massive goal difference swing with other struggling teams even lifted Posh off the bottom of the table, albeit still more than a win away from safety. It wasn’t a bad first League One game in charge for new boss Luke Williams.

Williams made one change to the winning starting line-up from last weekend’s FA Cup tie as Kiwi international Matt Garbett replaced Jimmy-Jay Morgan although the formation had been tweaked slightly to a 4-3-3. Winger Declan Frith returned from a knee injury to sit on the substitutes’ bench with James Dornelly dropping out of the matchday squad.

‘The Dons’ are League One’s over-achievers this season, sitting in sixth after winning their last three away games, but they had wobbled at home in their previous two home matches.

They wobbled here as well as the speed of the Posh players undermined a team of big blokes with devastating effect.

It took Posh 10 minutes to strike as Ben Woods freed Peter Kioso and his first-time cross was perfect for the now predatory Leonard.

Wimbledon had threats through. Their power and size made defending difficult and when Aron Sasu brushed Archie Collins aside Posh ‘keeper Alex Bass had to be alert to save with his feet on 12 minutes and the save was made to look even more important when Posh made it 2-0 five minutes later.

Garbett’s right-wing cross looked unthreatening, but Isaac Ogundere still felt the need to pull Leonard to the ground. The striker picked himself up to slam the penalty home.

To be fair the response of the visitors was strong. A shirt pull from Tim O’Connor meant a yellow card and a free kick on the edge of the area, but Bass again came good with a flying save from Steve Seddon’s set-piece.

‘The Dons’ enjoyed a decent spell of pressure. They often won the first header, but good covering from Harley Mills in particular meant they gained no clean sight of goal.

It always looked likely Posh would create on the break though. One brilliant Lisbie dribble had the crowd on their feet, but the ball was deflected behind a corner.

It didn’t matter as Lisbie claimed his first Posh goal on 38 minutes. Garbett was again the provider although his cross should have been cleared by the hapless Ogundere and Lisbie pounced to poke home.

And how the winger didn’t make it four minutes later only he will know. Garbett’s fine pass found Abraham Odoh. The defence caught him up, but the ball still travelled to Lisbie who somehow hit the post from close range rather than the back of the net.

Dons made two half-time subs and switched to a flat back four. They were more secure for longer but all their attacks were repelled by a strong back four in which centre-backs Tom Lees and Tom O’Connor excelled.

Posh always looked the more likely scorers on the counter attack. Woods and Abraham Odoh saw fine shots blocked and visiting ‘keeper Nathan BIshop made a brilliant save on to the crossbar as Kioso’s cross looked certain to fly in.

Williams made three substitutions with 15 minutes to go and two of them combined with Morgan’s precise cross converted by the onrushing Lindgren with five minutes to go, and in added time the Swede pounced on a misdirected header from a defender to race through and finish in style to cap a resounding success.

Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills, Tom O’Connor, Tom Lees, Peter Kioso (sub Carl Johnston, 86 mins), Ben Woods, Archie Collins, Abraham Odoh (sub Declan Frith, 73 mins), Matthew Garbett (sub Jimmy-Jay Morgan, 73 mins), Kyrell Lisbie (sub Klaidi Lolos, 77 mins), Harry Leonard (sub Gustav Lindgren, 73 mins).

Unused subs: Vicente Reyes, David Okagbue

Wimbledon: Nathan Bishop, Steve Seddon, Ryan Johnson, Jake Reeves, Alistair Smith, Aron Sasu, Joe Lewis, Isaac Ogundere(sub Antwoine Hackford, 46 mins), Marcus Browne (sub Sam Hutchinson, 77 mins), Omar Bugiel, Danilo Orsi (sub Nathan Asiimwe, 46 mins).

Unused subs: Joe McDonnell, Callum Maycock, Patrick Bauer, Riley Harbottle

GOALS: Posh – Leonard (10 mins & 17 mins pen), Lisbie (36 mins), Lindgren (77 mins & 90 + 3 mins).

CAUTIONS: Posh – O’Connor (foul), Kioso (foul).

Wimbledon – Ogundere (foul).

Referee: Simon Mather 8.

Attendance: 9,827 (1,318 Wimbledon).