You thought Reading result was embarrassing? Believe me there have been much worse FA Cup displays by Peterborough United

It was a club record home defeat in the competition, but there was mitigation in the standard of the opposition.

There have certainly been far more embarrassing Posh displays in the FA Cup. Here are some nominations from Posh fans on social media site X and from the PT whose reporters have much longer memories.

The worst of the worst from the PT…

1) Posh 1, Sutton United 3 (1987)

Posh had never lost at home to a non-league side in the FA Cup in their Football League era until Sutton United of the GM Vauxhall Conference pitched up at London Road in the second round in December 1987. Posh centre forward Les Lawrence managed to score at both ends in the first five minutes, but the visitors were deserved winners against a Posh side who were clueless without suspended star man Mick Gooding. Gooding was at Posh on Saturday in his regular role as a Reading FC pundit.

2) Posh 2, Kidderminster 3 (2014).

This was a galling third round replay loss in January, 2014 as Posh had a pretty good side spearheaded by striker Britt Assombalonga and a fourth round tie at Sunderland was awaiting the winners. Posh, who drew 0-0 in the first game at Aggborough, led through a Tommy Rowe goal at half-time, but Michael Gash (now a Deeping Rangers player) equalised and the non-league side were soon ahead only for Assombalonga to level from the penalty spot. Winger Joe Lolley struck a fine winner for Kidderminster and moved to Huddersfield Town the following day. Grant McCann played in this game for Posh and his Doncaster Rovers side lost 3-0 at National League Kiddy on Saturday.

3) Dagenham 1, Posh 0 (1984)

This was a controversial clash as a terrace wall collapse and hooliganism caused a 10-minute delay in the second-half after the hosts had opened the scoring two minutes after the re-start. Claims were made post-match that the referee blew for full-time too early (he did), but the result was allowed to stand. This was the 1980s, a far more desperate time than now as us old folk keep telling younger supporters!

4) Rochdale 3, Posh 2 (2002).

Second Division Posh fell 3-0 down at Third Division Rochdale before rallying with goals in the final 10 minutes from Andy Clarke and Neale Fenn. It was a horrific display which prompted calls to 606 on National Radio in protest at manager Barry Fry. As always Fry was unmoved and he went on to sign bulky forward Clive Platt who had scored for Rochdale. He was terrible so it was an embarrassing defeat with shocking ramifications.

5) Posh 1, Chorley 2 (2020).

Another Saturday night game at London Road in front of the live TV cameras and another top Posh side were humbled by a non-league team despite taking a second minute lead through Jack Taylor. Chorley turned the game on its head with two goals in three second-half minutes. Posh went on to get promoted to prove that embarrassing set-backs can be overcome.

From the fans...

Burton Albion (away, 0-1, 2005) Kidderminster (home and away), Hayes (home, 1-1, 1989), Cheltenham (home, 0-0, 1996) Bedford (away, 2001, 0-0) Enfield (away, 1-1, 1996) - @HillingdonPosh

Burton Kidderminster, Cambridge United (home, 0-2, 1994) – JustinDB1974

Kidderminster was gash – @samuelguy

Burton was horrendous – @bluearmy2015

Burton, Kidderminster and Sutton stand out! – @davidwh1971

Chorley and Kidderminster come to mind – @Gameday523

Burton and Kidderminster – @NJHubbard

Can we count the Kingstonian coin throwing incident in this (home, 9-1, 1992 but match ordered to be replayed)? What a disgrace that was – @almostnorthern

Losing at home to Chorley was definitely up there – @OHarniess

Kidderminster at home...@romysdad

Not Dagenham as we were lucky go get out alive. Horrible day out. Has to be the Reading defeat. Could have been more embarrassing – @CHAMM24