West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Peterborough United: Valerien Ismael's side end poor run

Karlan Grant scores for West BromImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Karlan Grant slotted past Peterborough debutant Steven Benda for his 10th goal of the season

A flurry of late strikes finally ended West Bromwich Albion's goal drought as they saw off struggling Peterborough.

Valerien Ismael's side, who had found the net just once in four games, laboured to break down a dogged Posh defence.

But Cedric Kipre scrambled in the opener in the 79th minute when Darnell Furlong's close-range effort from Conor Townsend's left-foot in-swinging corner cannoned into his shin and diverted the ball just inside the right upright.

Substitute Callum Robinson then set up both Karlan Grant and Albion's earlier sub Grady Diangana to seal the Baggies' first win in five Championship games.

Albion remain fifth, with Peterborough still 22nd in the table, three points adrift of safety.

The hosts handed a full debut to Daryl Dike, their New Year's Day signing from Orlando City, who had opportunities to open his account as the home side dominated possession.

Dike twice headed wide, as well as firing another effort straight at Peterborough debutant Steven Benda, while Grant also went close for the home side.

Although Dike went off injured early in the second half, his replacement Diangana looked lively and scythed his way through the visitors' defence before failing to beat Benda.

Matt Phillips also headed a chance wide for Albion, whose frustration grew until Furlong met Townsend's right-wing corner and it deflected in off fellow defender Kipre.

Grant made it 2-0 five minutes later, latching onto Robinson's first-time through ball and beating the keeper with a clinical left-foot finish.

Robinson then also supplied the assist for Diangana to wrap up victory in the 90th minute, with a low drive into the bottom corner.

West Bromwich Albion head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio WM:

"The story of the game was the story of our season. We controlled the game and Peterborough didn't shoot once on target. It was typical. It was the same as against Cardiff. It's all about staying calm.

"The opponent just wants to waste time, doesn't want to play football and I'm so delighted we can punish such a way to play at the end. You have to take the challenge and find a way to win the game.

"All the statistics speak for us, we've got the facts on the table and it's all about winning games and creating momentum."

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson:

"I can't believe we lost that game 3-0. For so long, I just couldn't see them scoring. Our shape was very good and then, all of a sudden, it was 3-0 in 10 minutes. So, I am massively disappointed.

"We didn't look that threatening as we couldn't get the first pass off, but we came to do a job and that was to frustrate them. They were booed off at half-time, although I would have liked us to have been more threatening.

"We gave away too many passes but we conceded from a set piece and when you put that much hard work in, it's a huge disappointment. It looks like we have been absolutely battered but we haven't been."

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