Report: Peterborough United 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday – Posh have one foot in the Play-Off Final
Peterborough United have one foot in the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final after destroying Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg of their semi-final on Friday night.
Darren Ferguson’s side who finished 19 points behind the Owls in the regular season roared to first leg victory thanks to goals from Jack Taylor, Joe Ward, Kwame Poko and Johnson Clarke-Harris.
As for Wednesday, they showed bright sparks despite the scoreline but will face a huge uphill task if they are to reach the play-off final.
Despite collecting 96 points in the regular season Wednesday fell apart at London Road.
Cameron Dawson will have been very frustrated as he was at fault for the opening goal. Taylor’s strike was powerful but at his near post Dawson would have been very disappointed to have beaten by the strike in the 20th minute.
Despite conceding, Wednesday were comfortable on the ball and threatened to create chances through Barry Bannan but failed to lay a glove on the Peterborough goal, they were made to pay for that as Posh doubled their lead before the break.
Dawson would have been disappointed with the first goal and if Wednesday thought luck was against them, it certainly was with the second, Ward’s 25 yard effort took a huge deflection off Marvin Johnson and a shot that looked to be going wide ended up in the back of the net. – The play-offs really can be cruel.
Josh Windass nearly pulled one back but his effort from inside box was saved well by Will Norris.
The visitors needed to start the second half on the front foot however, they found themselves further behind just five minutes into the half as Poko turned home Ephron Mason – Clark’s cross. A shellshocked Darren Moore on the sidelines watched on as his record breaking team crumbled under the pressure. Clarke-Harris almost made it 4-0 but his header was just over the bar.
Wednesday wanted a penalty after Johnson’s shot appeared to strike the arm of Ronnie Edwards but the referee waved away the protests.
Clarke-Harris would not be denied his goal and with the game in it’s final ten minutes Posh’s leading goalscorer may well have sealed Peterborough’s place at Wembley by adding a fourth with a header from close range.
Image: Peterborough United FC