ACCRINGTON STANLEY - 0

PETERBOROUGH UNITED - 2

ACCRINGTON Stanley are now without a win in five games after losing 2-0 to promotion chasers Peterborough United at the Wham Stadium.

Darren Ferguson’s side took the lead after 10 minutes through striker Siriki Szmodics before Ivan Toney laid the ball on a plate for Joe Ward to make it 2-0 at the start of the second half.

Stanley are back at home on Saturday as they take on AFC Wimbledon in a big game at the foot of League One.

The Reds almost made a quick-fire start as the ball fell loose to Sadou Diallo in the box for him to strike first time.

He was put under pressure when shooting and his shot was saved by Christy Pym.

It took 10 minutes for Ferguson’s side to take the lead with their attacking threat clear right from kick off.

Pacey striker Siriki Dembele burst beyond the Stanley midfield and found Szmodics at an angle running into the area, he hit it first time and it crept into Joe Bursik’s near post via the shin of Mark Hughes.

Dion Charles had a half chance to equalise with a header, but it would have been some effort had he converted with that one.

Charles continued to work up front and was aided by Diallo playing in behind him, but Stanley were struggling to keep hold of the ball in the final third to create chances.

Jordan Clark was looking to be the creative spark for the Reds, but found himself surrounded by Peterborough players every time he got on the ball.

Diallo once again popped up on the edge of the box, took the ball onto his left foot and let fly – the ball was blocked on the way to goal and then Joe Pritchard blazed over from a tight angle.

After some good footwork, Jerome Opoku over played in his own half and lost the ball, allowing the away side to get a shot off that was very well saved by Bursik.

Posh doubled their lead inside the first five minutes of the second period as Toney, who had been quiet all game, evaded the defence as was one on one with Bursik.

League One’s top scorer squared it to Ward, who looked to be yards offside, but the flag stayed down and he slotted into the open goal.

Clark continued to be Stanley’s main threat, as he has for much of the season, but he was outnumbered every time he got on the ball.

The game was set up perfectly for Posh as Stanley had to come out and attack them. The speedy trio of Dembele, Szmodics and Toney looked to counterattack at every opportunity.

Stanley really struggled to create anything to worry the Peterborough back line as they looked for a way back into the game.

Stanley XI: Bursik, Johnson, Sykes, Hughes, Opoku, Clark, Barclay, Conneely, Diallo, Pitchard, Charles

Subs: Savin, Alese, Zanzala, Maguire, Perritt, Rodgers, Sherif

Peterborough XI: Pym, Butler, Beevers, Kent, Szmodics, Dembele, Brown, Thompson, Toney, Ward,Taylor

Subs: Chapman, Bennett, Boyd, Mason, Jones, Eisa, Knight