Player verdicts

v READING CHRISTY PYM

A quiet night given the scoreline. Beaten by two great finishes and a deflection .......... 6

NATHAN THOMPSON

A mixed bag of excellence and sloppiness. Scored his first goal of the season ........... 7

FRANKIE KENT

A good comeback from the trauma of Bramall Lane. Very solid defensively ........ 7

RONNIE EDWARDS

The highlight of the Posh performance. Remarkably calm and composed in possession and a cool defender ............... 8

DAN BUTLER

Defended soundly, but it was a bad crossing day despite plenty of opportunity ............. 6

OLIVER NORBURN

Broke up Reading attacks regularly and denied a great goal by a top save .............. 7

CONOR COVENTRY

Combined effectively in the centre of midfield with Norburn .............................. 7

JOE WARD

A decent set-piece cross for the Posh goal, but indifferent and negative in possession otherwise ................................................. 5

SIRIKI DEMBELE

A very bright first-half, but faded as his teammates couldn’t get the ball to him ..... 6

JACK MARRIOTT

A struggle all night until limping off with an injury late on ............................................. 5

JONSON CLARKE-HARRIS

Cost Posh the crucial opening goal with his sloppiness in possession and poor decision-making ...................................... 5

Subs used Jack Taylor

(for Coventry, 65 mins) Speeded up the Posh passing game and unlucky to deflect the third goal in ........... 6

Sammie Szmodics (for Marriott, 81 mins) Stayed on the fringes of the action ........... 6

Joe Tomlinson (for Butler, 88 mins)

v SHEFFIELD UNITED CHRISTY PYM

The goalkeeper was largely blameless, but he hardly cuts an imposing figure ............ 6

JOSH KNIGHT

He had the chance to play in his favoured position on the right of the defence and he blew it. Poor apart from a couple of promising forward runs .......................... 4

FRANKIE KENT

The captain for the day was all at sea and he made a costly error for the second goal... 4

DAN BUTLER

Tried valiantly and one fine first-half block, but run ragged all afternoon .................... 4

JOE WARD

A defensive liability as a wingback. Lost his man twice for two goals. No threat going the other way . .......................................... 4

HARRISON BURROWS

Put in a decent shift as a left wing-back, but he couldn’t impact the game going forward and he also struggled defensively ............ 5

CONOR COVENTRY

The debutant suffered a baptism of fire. Couldn’t get on the ball against tough, talented opponents .................................. 5

OLIVER NORBURN

A struggle all afternoon as Posh were dominated in central areas ...................... 5

SAMMIE SZMODICS

He was at the heart of the few good passing moves Posh managed to piece together .. 6

JACK MARRIOTT

Took his goal very well, but should have scored early in the second-half from close range ........................................................ 6

SIRIKI DEMBELE

Some smooth running on the ball, but might have to be prepared to take more risks in possession to make something positive happen ........................................ 6

Subs used

Jack Taylor (for Norburn, 63 mins) ......... 5 Jonson Clarke-Harris (for Marriott, 72 mins) ........................................................ 6 Jorge Grant (for Szmodics, 72 mins) ....... 5