No ambition, no shots, no points

Of course Posh are not competing on a level playing field with the likes of West Bromwich Albion.

Indeed, given parachute payments, history and stature the Baggies should expect to beat Posh 3-0 at the Hawthorns.

But this was another throughly dispiriting road defeat for a Posh team who rarely left their own half for 90 minutes.

The tactics of frustration against a rather pedestrian and predictable home side worked for 79 minutes, but giving a promotion-chasing side so much possession and decent territory was always likely to fail and so it proved.

A scrappy goal from a corner, with scorer Cedric Kipre knowing very little about it, 11 minutes from time was quickly followed by smart finishes from Karlan Grant and substitute Grady Diangana to give the final scoreline a look that reflected the match statistics.

Posh had one effort on goal, a loopy header from Frankie Kent which drifted harmlessly wide from the only corner his side won all game. West Brom, for all their limitations, registered an astonishing 27.

Stand-in Baggies ‘keeper

David Button probably didn’t require a post-match shower.

Posh have struggled to create chances at Championship level for a while now which may have prompted an approach that lacked ambition and attacking quality.

The three centre-backs stood up to the challenge of non-stop defending pretty well with Frankie Kent outstanding on his 100th appearance for the club and his first since November 24.

Headers were won and many of those 27 shots were interrupted by defenders before debutant goalkeeper Steven Benda could be tested.

It could have been a much more convincing result for the hosts if Daryl Dike had converted any of three clearcut chances he had before limping off.

His departure did Posh no favours as a much better player in Diangana came on.