West Bromwich vs Peterborough match report: Saido Berahino brace cancelled out late on in Hawthorns thriller

West Bromwich Albion 2 Peterborough United 2

Jon Taylor rushes to the touchline (Getty)

Peterborough twice hit back from a goal down to earn a replay at home to West Bromwich Albion after a thrilling draw.

Saido Berahino, given a rare start, struck what looked as if it might be a decisive early goal but three goals in seven frantic minutes late on mean the League One promotion hopefuls will get another chance at the Abax Stadium next month.

Shaquile Coulthirst (below left with Jon Taylor) equalised after 79 minutes but Berahino restored West Bromwich’s lead before substitute Taylor levelled the scores again with four minutes left.


 Saido Berahino returns to scoring ways for the Baggies
 (Getty)

Tony Pulis, West Bromwich’s manager, said earlier that Berahino had “wasted three or four months of his career” in seeking a transfer, paid tribute to the striker. “His sharpness is nowhere near what it was last year and you can see that as much as I can,” he said. “Not playing football certainly knocks your fitness and sharpness but one thing you certainly can’t take away from the kid is calmness in front of goal. He has that wonderful, wonderful ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”

After Pulis’s side had made a fast start Peterborough settled but fell behind after 14 minutes. Harry Beautyman gave the ball away in midfield allowing Lambert to lead an Albion break.

He laid the ball off to Berahino, who beat Ben Alnwick with a 25-yard shot.

West Brom were twice on the verge of an upset (Getty)

Peterborough presented West Bromwich with two more chances either side of the half-hour mark, but Alnwick thwarted first Lambert and then James McClean.

Graham Westley, the Posh manager, fell to the floor in the 55th minute when a bang was heard as the match ball burst.

His side tightened up after the break and made the hosts work for their chances. They finally extended Boaz Myhill in he home goal after 72 minutes when he had to get down to smother Michael Smith’s shot.

After failing to capitalise on Peterborough’s defensive errors in the first half, West Bromwich were punished for one of their own with 11 minutes remaining. Coulthirst capitalised on hesitation between Sebastien Pocognoli and Myhill when faced with a long ball and scored from the right side of the penalty area.

Only five minutes later Posh failed to clear Craig Dawson’s cross and the ball found its way to Berahino, who tucked away his second of the game.

However, Posh were not beaten and Taylor found the bottom corner of the net with a shot from the edge of the area.

Westley, who recalled his giant-killings at Darlington with Farnborough in 2003 and with Stevenage against Newcastle five years ago, said the result was right up there. “But the most pleasing thing is that a lot of young players have really grown up this afternoon and got some self-belief,” he said.

“They have gone toe-to-toe with some serious players and worked really hard and it gives you the self-belief you can take with you for the rest of the season – the rest of your career.”

West Bromwich: (4-4-2) Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Pocognoli; Sessègnon (Anichebe, 66), Yacob, Gardner, McClean; Lambert (Rondon, 62), Berahino.

Peterborough: (4‑1-2-1-2) Alnwick; Smith, Bostwick, Santos, Wilson (Samuelson, h-t); Baldwin; Beautyman (Taylor, h‑t), Forrester, Oztumer (Maddison, 60), Angol; Coulthirst.

Referee: Kevin Friend

Man of the match: Alnwick (Peterborough)

Match rating: 7/10