Derby day misery for the Cobblers as rivals Posh claim comfortable victory

The final 2-0 scoreline doesn't entirely reflect United's dominance but in the end goals from Nathan Thompson and Reece Brown did the damage as Posh extended their unbeaten run in this fixture to nine games, going all the way back to 2006.

Cobblers had one or two moments of promise in the first-half but otherwise struggled to get in the game and United deserved their slender lead going into the break, given to them by Thompson's first goal for the club.

Town huffed and puffed in the second-half but lacked quality in the final third and Brown's fizzing low finish nine minutes from time sealed the deal for Posh.

It's now three straight league defeats for the Cobblers and although the season is still young, they will need to produce more quality and creativity ahead of a tricky run of fixtures.

The Cobblers starting line-up included first league starts for Danny Rose and Jack Sowerby and there was also a return for Fraser Horsfall at the back as Luka Racic and Ryan Watson dropped out.

Town stopper Steve Arnold had to have his wits about him in the early exchanges as Posh made the brighter start, saving well from Sammie Szmodics inside 60 seconds and then Siriki Dembele 10 minutes later.

After a nervy start, Cobblers settled into the game and threatened with a couple of counter-attacks, one of which saw Sam Hoskins drive through the middle and find Rose who forced Christy Pym to parry over with a firm strike.

Pym was forced into a much better stop midway through the half when Town cut through Posh before Sowerby's fizzing low cross was instinctively turned goalwards by Hoskins and United's goalkeeper had to get down smartly.

At the other end, the problems were coming in the inside left channel as Joe Ward and then Thompson found acres of space but neither made the most of it, while Clarke-Harris' header was simple enough for Arnold.

But Town did not learn their lesson and at the third time of asking, United made it count. Dembele, unsurprisingly, was at the heart of it, taking out three defenders with a terrific through pass and Thompson had both the time and the space to drill into the bottom corner.

A fine fingertip stop from Arnold kept out Clarke-Harris and Town's number one also had to be alert at a corner to ensure his side remained only one behind at half-time.

Ryan Watson replaced Christopher Missilou at the break and Benny Ashley-Seal came on 12 minutes into the half but Peterborough's goal remained under little threat, while at the other end, Cian Bolger blocked bravely from Mark Beevers and Dembele's free-kick hit the top of the wall in further chances for Posh.

A rare foray forward on 65 minutes resulted in a free-kick on the edge of the box for Town but Nicky Adams curled a couple of yards over and United were quickly back on the attack with Ward forcing Arnold into action.

Cobblers were somehow still in with a shout going into the final 10 minutes but hopes were dashed a few moments later when Brown brilliantly drilled a low shot into the far bottom corner.

That was as good as game over and the final whistle confirmed another miserable derby day for the Cobblers.

Match facts

Cobblers: Arnold, Harriman, Bolger (c), Horsfall, Mills (Korboa 68), Missilou (Watson 45), Sowerby, Adams, Hoskins, Rose, Smith (Ashley-Seal 57)

Subs not used: Mitchell, Racic, Marshall, Chukwuemeka

Peterborough: Pym, Butler, Thompson, Beevers (c), Kent, Brown, Szmodics (Broom 78), Hamilton, Ward, Dembele, Clarke-Harris

Subs not used: Gyollai, Eisa, Reed, Clarke, Blake-Tracy, Mason

Referee: Brett Huxtable