Peterborough United began their npower League One campaign in fine style with a 3-0 victory over Bristol Rovers at London Road as Gary Johnson's men set the standard for this new season.

The new campaign got underway in sunshine at London Road, but it was the Bristol Rovers kit that was causing the early problems, yellow and black not ideal for spotting names and numbers on the back. 

Danny Coles entered the book for a rash challenge on striker Craig Mackail-Smith on three minutes, but the set-piece came to nothing. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, deployed on the right hand side of midfield, delivered an excellent cross on six minutes, but James Tunnicliffe cleared well under pressure from Mackail-Smith at the back post.

Aaron Mclean squandered a presentable opportunity on nine minutes after a superb low cross from Grant McCann, the front man firing wide of the near post from eight yards. Former Posh defender Jeff Hughes headed a Blizzard cross wide of the target moments later as both sides demonstrated good attacking prowess.

Mendez-Laing, given the nod ahead of Aaron Davies, was looking sharp on the right and his impressive burst into the penalty area, was only ended by a fine Gary Sawyer tackle. There was chaos at the back for the Pirates on 23 minutes as the visitors struggled to clear following a McCann corner kick, Byron Anthony eventually hacking the ball clear.

On 26 minutes, an improving Posh came close to the breakthrough as an impressive run from Little picked out Mendez-Laing, whose neat pass found Mackail-Smith, but he fired over.

However, goalkeeper Joe Lewis made a superb stop to deny Will Hoskins moments later after the striker raced clear, the shot-stopper narrowing the angle and making a fine stop as the rain began to fall at London Road.

It was great entertainment from both sides and Posh were definitely playing some excellent stuff, Boyd beating the full back in trademark style and delivering a pinpoint pass to Mclean, but he side-footed his effort straight at Anderson.

On 36 minutes, Lewis showed why he is so highly-rated, not just at Posh, but within the England management, when he made a superb save to deny Hughes after Kuffour's cross had been deflected into his path.

Hoskins fired wide on 38 minutes as Paul Trollope's men enjoyed their best spell in the game as the rain continued to fall heavily. A miss-placed header from Bennett allowed Kuffour to get through three minutes before the break and pressure from Langmead saw him go to ground, but despite appeals, the referee awarded a goal-kick.

Half-time: Posh 0-0 Bristol Rovers

Moments after the re-start, Bennett was cautioned for a tug on Brown as Rovers made a lively start to the second period. Posh had several penalty appeals turned down five minutes after the break but all were waved away by Mr Ward.

The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes and it was inevitably George BOYD who fired the first goal of the campaign for the boys in blue, firing low past Anderson and into the back of the net after a surging run by centre back Kelvin Langmead.

The goal gave Posh more confidence and Mclean was unlucky not to win a corner after his goal-bound header appeared to take a large deflection via Coles. Mclean was aided by a deflection moments later as his skidding shot hit the base of the post before Coles cleared.

A McCann corner kick on 69 minutes nearly yielded a second goal for Posh, Langmead towering over the centre half to power a header down but Brown was well placed on the line to clear.

Posh doubled their advantage on 73 minutes and it was persistence from Aaron MCLEAN, who beat the goalkeeper to the ball following a Mackail-Smith through-ball and despite heroics efforts on the line by Tunnicliffe, the striker managed to squeeze the ball into the back of the net to his obvious delight. Mclean only received his boots hours before kick-off and was clearly delighted to see the ball creep in.

Hoskins was denied by Lewis on 76 minutes before new signing Lee Tomlin was given his chance to impress with a two-goal cushion now in place. Fellow substitute Charlie Lee was denied another left-foot goal by a good parry from Anderson before Boyd saw a goal chalked off for handball.

The hugely confident Tomlin showed great skill on the ball to create a shooting opportunity for himself and what a strike it was, clipping the unfortunate Coles on the forehead before rising over the crossbar.

It was 3-0 to a now rampant Posh on 86 minutes as skipper Grant MCCANN curled a superb left-foot free-kick into the bottom corner after Campbell had been penalised for a high boot on Tomlin.

Lewis made a fine save to deny Hoskins a minute into stoppage time as Rovers mounted a late push for a consolation goal.

Final Score: Posh 3-0 Bristol Rovers

Posh: Lewis, Little, Langmead, Wesolowski (sub Lee 76min), Mclean (sub Tomlin 78min), Boyd, McCann, Mackail-Smith, Bennett, Mendez-Laing (sub Davies 60min), Nana. Unused subs: Rowe, Piergianni, Koranteng, Collis.

Bristol Rovers: Anderson, Sawyer, Coles, Tunnicliffe, Campbell, Hoskins, Hughes (sub Lines 72min), Anthony, Blizzard, Brown (sub Duffy 83min), Kuffour. Unused subs: Regan, Green, Richards, Reece, Shallow.

Attendance: 7,113 (661 Rovers fans)