Albion 2 Peterborough 2 – Report and pictures
League One Peterborough forced West Brom to a replay with two goals in the last 11 minutes at the Hawthorns in today's FA Cup fourth round clash.
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Saido Berahino's clinical finish in his first start since October gave the Baggies the lead in the 14th minute.
But it was cancelled out by Shaquile Coulthirst's opportunistic goal in the 80th minute, that came about from a huge mix-up between left-back Sebastien Pocognoli and goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.
Berahino restored Albion's lead just three minutes later, with a typically calm finish into the opposite corner after the ball had fallen to him at the back post.
But just when it looked like the Baggies had got out of jail, Posh substitute Jon Taylor volleyed a knock-down past Myhill to take Albion back to London Road.
Although the Baggies were in control for the majority of the match, it was only Berahino's early strike that separated the teams until the 79th minute.
Three goals then flew into the back of the net in the space of six minutes.
It's two days before the transfer window closes, with Berahino looking increasingly likely to remain at the Hawthorns.
The striker's brace suggested that, if boss Tony Pulis does keep hold of last season's top scorer, then he needs to play him.
Before this game, the Baggies had managed just one shot on target in three whole games.
Although they hardly peppered Ben Alnwick in the Posh goal, they looked much more likely to score with Berahino in the side.
But Peterborough manager Graham Westley knows how to cause upsets in the FA Cup.
Albion (4-4-1-1): Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Evans (c), Pocognoli, Sessegnon (Anichebe 67), Yacob, Gardner, McClean, Berahino, Lambert (Rondon 63).
Unused subs: Rose, Chester, Olsson, Gamboa, Leko.
Peterborough (4-1-2-1-2): Alnwick, Smith, Baldwin, Bostwick, Oztumer (Maddison 60), Santos, Beautyman (Taylor 45), Angol, Forrester, Wilson (Samuelsen 45), Coulthirst.
Unused subs: Henry, Maddison, Fox, Da Silva-Lopes, Coulibaly.[/breakout]
He was boss of League Two Stevenage when they shocked Premier League Newcastle United 3-1 in the third round five years ago.
His side called on that spirit in the dying few minutes to come back not once, but twice, against opposition two leagues above them.
As well as handing Berahino a start, Pulis also gave Pocognoli a rare appearance, starting the Belgian for just the third time since he took over the club more than a year ago.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett was in the crowd to watch the left-back, but he probably would not have liked what he saw, with the Belgian arguably at fault for both goals.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster was omitted from the squad as a precautionary measure after picking up a minor knock, giving Jack Rose a place among the substitutes a day before his 21st birthday.
Adil Nabi, who was sold to Posh earlier this month for an undisclosed fee, was unavailable to play for the visitors due to a stipulation in his transfer.
Straight away it was obvious the game was going to be more open than Albion's tight Premier League clashes and the first opening fell to Rickie Lambert before a minute had been played.
James McClean outstripped right-back Lawrie Wilson and pulled the ball back to the former Liverpool striker, but Lambert's touch let him down and the ball rolled harmlessly out of play.
Berahino started the day with six goals and four assists in his last five FA Cup games.
It took him just 14 minutes to add to that total, curling his shot inside Alnwick's right-hand post from the edge of the area.
In truth, the Albion striker was afforded far too much space after Lambert's lay-off, but it was the sort of clinical strike that the Baggies have been desperately lacking in recent games.
Coulthirst had Peterborough's first shot of the match 20 minutes in, skimming the ball a couple of yards wide of Myhill's post but defensively they looked suspect.
Westley has been praised for playing passing football at Peterborough, but the Posh players in pink were guilty of trying to overplay twice in quick succession and nearly handed Albion a second before half-time.
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First of all, Lambert tackled Alnwick after a poor back-pass to the goalkeeper, but fortunately for the visitors their skipper gathered the ball in his arms just before Berahino stole in for his second.
Ten minutes later, the Baggies really should have gone two up when McClean robbed Santos of the ball in his own half, but the Irish winger's shot lacked conviction and Alnwick saved the resulting one-on-one.
Albion would later come to rue those misses. The home side controlled the first half, and started the second on top too.
Berahino's brilliant work in the Posh half won possession back before the striker found Sessegnon on the right.
His low cross to the back post was aimed at Lambert but a well-timed tackle from Jack Baldwin denied the striker.
Westley made two substitutes at half-time and both Taylor and Martin Samuelsen added energy to the visitor's midfield.
Peterborough enjoyed a five-minute spell of pressure in Albion's half before Westley rolled the dice, making his third and final substitution on the hour mark, bringing Marcus Maddison on for Erhun Oztumer.
Pulis made his first substitute, bringing Salomon Rondon on for the ineffective Lambert.
But neither side were able to create any real chances until the 65th minute when Chris Forrester's devilish ball into the box just evaded Lee Angol's head.
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McClean picked up a silly yellow card for an attempted late lunge that missed ball and man before Victor Anichebe came on for Stephane Sessegnon.
The Baggies should have put the game to bed 20 minutes before the end, when Gardner blasted Rondon's pull-back high over the bar.
Two minutes later, Michael Smith gave Albion a warning sign, shooting stright at Myhill as the slender lead came under strain.
Albion had let a one-goal lead slip at The Hawthorns to Bristol City in the third round, and as the game wore on, Peterborough's belief they could snatch a replay grew.
Their first goal came from an innocuous long ball sent forward to Pocognoli, who left the ball for Myhill while the goalkeeper left the ball for him.
Coulthirst capitalised, lifting the ball past the Welsh goalkeeper to send the visiting fans behind the Smethwick into raptures.
Berahino found the bottom far corner with a low shot in the box just three minutes later, but it wasn't enough to send the Baggies into the last 16.
Two minutes later, Albion were undone by another long ball towards Pocognoli. This time it was knocked down to Taylor, who's fantastic finish past Myhill ensured the teams would have to do it all again.
