Posh beaten 3-1 by Reading in Sky Bet Championship action.
Peterborough United were undone by two goals in as many minutes at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as Reading ran out 3-1 winners against Darren Ferguson’s men, who were in the contest for long periods and created arguably the better openings in front of goal.
After a quiet opening, it was Jonson Clarke-Harris who had the first half chance from a dead ball situation, but his free-kick on 12 minutes struck the wall. Dele-Bashiru sent a deflected effort looping into the hands of Christy Pym at the other end after a switch of play from one side of the pitch to the other.
Siriki Dembele, who had been fouled four times in the opening 20 minutes without a Reading man receiving a caution, tested goalkeeper Southwood with a powerful drive on 28 minutes after a good body swerve took him away from the defender around 25-yards from goal.
In first half stoppage time, keeper Southwood produced an athletic stop to tip over a fierce half-volley from Norburn from 25-yards. Frankie Kent was cautioned moments later, a decision which looked particularly harsh from afar.
Reading made a change deep into stoppage time with Holmes replacing the stricken Liam Moore. Conor Coventry swept a shot wide of the target on 48 minutes after good initial play from Dembele. On 63 minutes, the home side opened the scoring as the in-form Jon SWIFT curled an unstoppable free-kick over the wall and into the corner past Pym who had no chance.
The hosts doubled the lead on 67 minutes as the ball was lashed low into the corner by Dele-BASHIRU after a low cross somehow eluded everyone else in the box. Darren Ferguson’s men pulled a goal back on 74 minutes as a free-kick from Ward was met at the far post by skipper Nathan THOMPSON who headed home from close-range.
Posh were dealt a huge blow on 80 minutes as Marriott limped out of the action with a muscular injury as he chased down the keeper. Sammie Szmodics was his replacement. Clarke-Harris headed a cross from Butler wide of the target on 83 minutes with Thompson closing in behind him as Posh pressed for an equaliser.
Joe Tomlinson replaced Butler with five minutes to play as Ferguson made his final change of the evening. Reading made the game safe with two minutes to play as Dele-BASHIRU unleashed a stunning effort into the top corner from 28-yards.
Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Rahman, Moore (sub Holmes 45min), Morrison, Laurent, Dele-Bashiru, Ejaria, Swift, Puscas , Halilovic (sub Hoilett 65min). Unused subs: Boyce-Clarke, Tetek, Camara, Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan.
Posh: Pym, Butler (sub Tomlinson 85min), Thompson, Edwards, Kent, Ward, Dembele, Coventry (sub Taylor 64min), Norburn, Clarke-Harris, Marriott (sub Szmodics 80min). Unused subs: Cornell, Knight, Poku, Grant.
Half-time: Reading 0-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Reading 3-1 Peterborough United
Referee: Tim Robinson