Peterborough 0 West Brom 2: Baggies sign off for pre-season with comfortable win

Albion signed off from pre-season duty with a useful 2-0 friendly victory at League One side Peterborough United.

Second-half efforts from striker duo Aune Heggebo and Barney Stewart earned James Morrison’s side a comfortable and deserved victory in Cambridgeshire.

Almost 1,000 travelling Baggies enjoyed another promising warm-up display in the sunshine, seven days out from competitive action beginning in the EFL Cup at Rotherham.

Albion dominance merited a half-time lead but Albion were made to wait until Heggebo’s poacher’s effort a couple of minutes after the interval to find the lead.

Substitute Stewart, the summer signing from Falkirk, converted a cool finish into the bottom corner for two with one of his first touches of the ball later in the half.

Morrison was left satisfied as his forward once again found the net and new signing right-back Nolan Galves excelled on a first appearance.

Galves, 23, played 68 minutes and was a creative force for his side in the first half in a very eye-catching display.

George Campbell, who wore the captain’s armband, and Nat Phillips marshalled a deserved clean sheet as the League One hosts were dispatched with ease.

Albion were bright in the early stages as Jayson Molumby had a strike inside the box blocked.

Galves’ left-footed effort from 20 yards also cannoned a defender and Ousmane Diakite saw a dipping strike fly narrowly wide via a deflection.

Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass was alive to JJ Morgan’s attempts to round him before Isaac Price sent a tame first-time strike at the keeper having been picked out by Morgan.

Peterborough had one of two raids down their left in an attempt to get at Galves after colleagues were caught in possession but nothing overly stretched Albion’s backline.

Galves was heavily involved for his side and combined well with Price and others. On a couple of occasions the ball was worked to Harry Whitwell, but the youngster was unable to find a telling pass or touch.

A wonderful left-footed cross from Galves drew a chance midway through the half as Morgan’s far post header floated wide across goal. Moments later the French full-back right-footed low cross fizzed across goal.

The bright spell from Morrison’s men waned somewhat towards the end of the first period, which was largely dominated by the visitors, if for the lack of testing Bass between the sticks.

Morrison’s men turned their dominance into the lead shortly after the interval. Whitwell was involved in a central move worked left to Price and the left-sider produced an excellent near-post delivery.

Heggebo beat a defender to the punch for an instinctive poacher’s finish high at the near post in front of the 600 travelling fans.

Albion were in charge and broke at Posh’s backline at will in the hunt for a second. Price had two efforts from range fielded by Bass and Morgan was flagged offside on a couple of occasions.

Whitwell and Nat Phillips were strong to snuff out United sniffs and Max O’Leary was alert off his line on one occasion.

A raft of changes midway through the half might’ve stunted, but they did anything but.

Posh were guilty of overplaying in their own half and were punished. Mikey Johnston, continuing his comeback from a broken ankle, broke towards the box and picked out a pass to his right for the run of Stewart.

The new signing guided a measured finish with his instep across goal, which dribbled into the far corner.

Morrison was able to give more minutes to youngsters Ollie Bostock and Matty Crowther and there was a first run-out since his return for Conor Townsend.

The Baggies should have added a late third as substitute Alex Mowatt’s pinpoint cross was turned wide at the back post by Stewart.

Peterborough: Bass, Mendonca, Okagbue, Dornelly, Weir, Woods (Trialist, 55), Khela, Conn-Clarke, Edwards (Johnston, 55), Shofowoke, Leonard.

Subs not used: Andeng Ndi (gk), Jones, Mills, Sykut, Abbey, Fox, Kamara.

Albion (4-4-2): O’Leary; Galves (Williams, 68), Phillips, Campbell (c), Styles (Townsend, 68); Whitwell, Diakite (Crowther, 77), Molumby (Mowatt, 77), Price (Bostock, 77); Morgan (Johnston, 68), Heggebo (Stewart, 68).

Subs not used: Ingram (gk), Cisse (gk), Mepham, Bielik, Gilchrist.

Attendance: 3,443 (937 Albion fans)

Referee: Josh Smith