Darren Ferguson's men defeated in opening pre-season friendly fixture by Crawley Town.
Peterborough United were beaten 1-0 in their opening pre-season friendly with npower League One side Crawley Town securing a narrow victory at the Broadfield Stadium.
Darren Ferguson selected two XIs for each half with only goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik playing the full 90 minutes. It was a goal by Gary Alexander that was the difference between the two sides, but the Posh boss will be happy that none of his squad appeared to pick up any injuries.
Posh, wearing the new home blue strip, started with Lee Tomlin just behind Paul Taylor and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in attack. On nine minutes, Billy Clarke sliced a right-footed effort well wide of the target after he was afforded time and space on the edge of the area.
Mat Sadler tested new Posh goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik on 12 minutes with a stinging drive as the home side continued to show promise in attacking areas. Crawley opened the scoring on 14 minutes as a poor back pass allowed Gary ALEXANDER to nip in and curl a right-foot shot past Olejnik and into the back of the net.
Tommy Rowe was denied an immediate leveller by a smart Paul Jones save while the same Posh player saw a glancing header cleared off the line by Matt Sadler.
Olejnik made a superb stop to deny Alexander's powerful near post header from an in-swinging free-kick as Crawley came close to a second before the half hour mark.
Mendez-Laing fired wide with two efforts as the half drew to a close with Paul Taylor also going close.
Sergio Torres was introduced from the bench for Crawley 10 minutes into the second period. Posh were still struggling to create anything of any real note in front of goal with 65 minutes played at the Broadfield Stadium.
Substitute Morgan Ferrier should have made it 2-0 on 73 minutes, but he blazed over the bar from three-yards following a low cross from Torres. At the other end, Jones produced a fine fingertip save to push a fierce Barnett effort around the post as Posh pushed for a late leveller.
Crawley 1st Half: Jones, Connolly, Davis (sub Hunt), McFadzean, Sadler, Akpan (sub Davies), Simpson (sub Wickham), Bulman (sub Torres), Adams (sub Neilson), Alexander (sub Akinde), Clarke (sub Ferrier) . Unused subs: Kuipers, Smith, John, Evans, Wassmer, Hunt.
Posh 1st half: Olejnik, Little, Zakuani, Grant, Rowe, Tomlin, Newell, McCann, Frecklington, Taylor, Mendez Laing.
Posh 2nd half: Olejnik, Ntlhe, Richens, Brisley, Knight-Percival, Bostwick, Kearns, Boyd, L. Wright, Swanson, Barnett.
Referee: Carl Berry
View more pictures from the match against Crawley Town, by visiting www.theposhpics.com. Or by clicking here.