Posh battle with Premier League giants

Posh rubbed shoulders with some top Premier League stars in a prestigious friendly against Chelsea last weekend.

The Blues hand-picked Posh as their first opponents of the summer and, although they were without their players who competed in the Euros, they still fielded a top-class line-up, writes Alan Swann.

The final scoreline was 6-1 in favour of Chelsea, but that only told part of the story as Posh took the lead and looked the better side for 45 minutes, before multiple halftime changes for both sides worked in favour of the hosts who scored four unanswered goals after the break.

The game took place behind closed doors with strict reporting conditions in place, but Posh co-0wner Darragh MacAnthony was present and he liked what he saw.

MacAnthony said: “We looked the better side in that first-half, but the second half team wilted in the heat.

“We didn’t deserve to be behind at the break. It was a phenomenal workout for us.”

MacAnthony also praised teenage centre-back Ronnie Edwards who shone against the likes of Tammy Abarham.

MacAnthony has taken to

calling Edwards ‘new stadium’ as he believes a transfer fee could one pay for the proposed new ground on the Embankment!

Siriki Dembele both won and converted a penalty to give Posh an early lead and other chances came and went before Abraham, an England international, equalised and Christian

Pulisic, a USA international, fired Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot following a foul by Kyle Barker.

Hakim Ziyech, a Moroccon international, struck a second-half hat-trick as Posh tired with Armando Broja completing the scoring.

Posh played without a recognised striker for the final 30 minutes as Jack Marriott, Jonson Clarke-Harris and RickyJade Jones were all absent because of injury.

That didn’t help probable first-choice midfielders JackTaylor and Jorge Grant who were part of the struggling second-half side.

Posh pair Frankie Kent and David Cornell (right) prepare to try and block a shot from Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech.

Siriki Dembele opens the scoring for Posh at Chelsea from the penalty spot.

Ethan Hamilton of Posh competes with Danny Drinkwater of Chelsea.

Sammie Szmodics attempts to close down Chelsea’s Marcus Alonso.

Posh midfielder Kyle Barker chases Chelsea star Christian Pulisic.

Harrison Burrows battles with Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.

Josh Knight tangles with Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Siriki Dembele takes on Christian Pulisic of Chelsea.

Jack Taylor takes on Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.