By Tim Hodges
Peterborough United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The Albion won their third league game in a row as Will Buckley scored twice, the winner coming with just two minutes left.
After the late-night antics at Wrexham on Wednesday Gus Poyet made a few changes to the starting line up. Marcos Painter returned from injury as did Jake Forster-Caskey while Gordon Greer came back from suspension.
Craig Mackail-Smith, on his first return to London Road since his £2.5 million move to the Albion in the summer, formed a partnership with Ashley Barnes as the Seagulls pressed the home side from the off.
After just six minutes Painter suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by Adam El-Abd.
As the Albion dominated Matt Sparrow and Forster-Caskey had good efforts from distance.
Mackail-Smith had a good effort just before the half hour but this just flashed wide.
After El-Abd was fouled in Peterborough’s half, Buckley shaped to float the ball towards the area of the penalty spot from about 45 yards out. Whether it was slightly over-hit or not won’t worry the Albion as the ball eluded every player in the penalty box, including Posh keeper Joe Lewis, and nestled in the far corner to put Albion 1-0 up.
Albion maintained the pressure after the goal, Mackail-Smith again going close after good work from Sparrow.
Before half time, man of the moment Peter Brezovan made a good stop from Emile Sinclair to ensure Albion went in leading at half-time.
Peterborough brought Grant McCann on in the second half but Albion still dominated large amounts of the play. Forster-Caskey almost set up Mackail-Smith for a second.
But not long after, as the Albion appeared to switch off for second, Ryan Tunnicliffe whipped in a cross that David Ball put away to restore parity with just on 20 minutes left.
For a while it looked like the Posh would seize the initiative. However, in an inspired doubled substitution Poyet replaced Forster-Caskey and Sparrow with Alan Navarro and Toby Agdestien.
Within a minute Agdestien took the ball forward and knocked a super pass into the penalty area for Buckley who drilled it past Lewis to give Albion all three points.
Albion: Brezovan; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Bridcutt, Forster-Caskey, Sparrow; Buckley, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Ankergren, El-Abd, Navarro, Agdestein, Hoskins.
Peterborough: Lewis; Little, Bennett, Zakuani, Alcock; Tunnicliffe, Wootton, Rowe, Tomlin; Taylor, Sinclair. Subs: Jones, Ajose, Ball, McCann, Newell.
