Peterborough 0 - 2 West Bromwich Albion

By Jemma Tappenden
August 29 2007

After a disappointing result and perfomance at Bramall Lane in the League last weekend, Mowbray's men travelled to London Road tonight to take on ex Wolves man Darren Ferguson's Peterborough side in round two of the League cup. It was a welcome break from league action which has seen the Baggies pick up only 3 points from their first three games.

 

Tony Mowbray made several key changes to the side that were defeated at Sheffield United on Sunday, leaving Hoefkens, Barnett, Robinson, Phillips, Morrison and Pele out of the squad that was to face Darren Ferguson's Peterborough side at London Road. Instead chances were handed to Clement, Chaplow, Hodgkiss, Cesar, Gera and Ellington, despite very recent speculation that Ellington would be leaving West Brom before the closing of the transfer window on Friday.

A relative slow start was soon ended in the 6th minute when Ellington looked to have laid on the perfect pass to Chaplow, who unselfishly squared to midfielder Craig Beattie who squandered the 15 yard chance over the bar. Chances then came thick and fast for the Albion, with Ellington, Teixeira and Chaplow all recording near misses. Peterborough left it until the 15th minute before really testing Dean Kiely, Aaron Mclean forcing a header just wide of the left post. Seven minutes later Boss Mowbray was left heart in mouth as Cesar's short backpass played keeper Kiely into trouble, but the snappy keeper forced a decent save at the feet of Chris Welpdale, finally seeing the ball out for a corner kick. In the 26th minute Kiely was tested again by a Jamie Day freekick from 20 yards which looked like hitting the top corner of the net before the Albion keeper pulled off a fine flying save.

It was soon the Peterborough defence's time to panic as Beattie connected a sweet header to Greening's corner, only to see his fine effort cleared from the line. However a second corner two minutes later saw better success for the Baggies, Gera heading home from a Clement corner, despite the Posh keeper getting a hand on the ball. Ellington had the chance to double Albion's lead in the 40th minute, but the want away striker connected awkwardly to Gera's pass, sending his shot well wide of the target. Craig Beattie pounced on the miscued shot only to see the Posh defence clear off the line once again. A minute before the break Ellington made up for his miscued shot by giving Albion a two goal advantage. The Baggies broke from Clement in defence, who picked out Gera perfectly. The Hungarian international forced a fine save from keeper Jalal, who watched in despair as the ball rebound back into the box to Beattie. Beattie who could only head the ball into the air somehow found Ellington who volleyed the ball home on his second attempt.

Half Time: Peterborough 0 - 2 West Bromwich Albion.

Albion came out sparkling in the second half and immediately piled the pressure onto Posh keeper Jalal. A vital 51st minute save from a Beattie shot gave the keeper and remaining Posh side renewed vigour. There then followed a series of Peterborough shots and applied pressure. But manager Darren Ferguson could only look on as he saw a number of target misses and fine Dean Kiely saves. Closest came Charlie Lee, who on this occasion beat keeper Kiely, but saw his shot sneak only centimeters short of the post. Ferguson's side were able to push Albion up until the hour mark, when the swings and roundabouts saw the pressure balance slowly restored back to the Baggies. Clement and Ellington came close to getting Albion's third, and Robert Koren soon got back into the action when he replaced Teixeira in the 69th minute. There were missed chances at both ends, but the second half belonged to Albion, who whilst unable to add to their first half goal tally cruised to a comfortable two goal victory at London Road.

Full Time: Peterborough 0 - 2 West Bromwhich Albion

Gera 32

Ellington 44

Attendance: 4917