Stoke 2-0 Peterborough: Potters strengthen play-off push with comfortable win

Mario Vrancic (right) celebrates scoring for Stoke City — Mario Vrancic (right) netted his second Stoke goal to give them the lead against Peterborough

Stoke City moved up to fourth in the Championship with a third win in a row against struggling Peterborough.

Mario Vrancic’s deflected shot put the Potters in front after three minutes before Jacob Brown almost made it two after charging down David Cornell’s clearance.

Posh did rally with Jorge Grant twice going close before the break but had Cornell to thank for keeping out James Chester’s header in the second half.

Sam Surridge’s red card on 81 minutes threatened to give the visitors a route back but their hope was snuffed out when Tyrese Campbell added a second in injury time.

Stoke stretched their unbeaten run to four games while Posh’s eighth defeat in their past nine away games – and sixth in a row against Stoke – means they still have not beaten the Potters in a competitive game and drop into the relegation zone.

The Potters came into the game chasing a third win in a row for the first time since October 2016 in the days of Mark Hughes and took the lead through Vrancic’s second goal for the club.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international, afforded too much room on the edge of the box, fired into the corner left-footed with the help of a thick deflection off Posh defender Frankie Kent.

They almost doubled their advantage shortly after when Jacob Brown charged down Cornell’s clearance that looped back over the keeper and rolled just wide.

But Peterborough, with the fewest shots on target in the Championship this season, did their best to cause Stoke problems, with the lively Siriki Dembele an irritant down the right.

Grant clipped a free-kick on to the roof of the Stoke net before firing over moments later. Dembele then threatened to equalise late in the first half only for Danny Batth’s tackle to deny him.

Stoke were denied a second goal early in the second half as Cornell saved brilliantly when Chester met Vrancic’s corner before the rebound hit Steven Fletcher and kissed the post.

The Potters were given a nervy ride when a Jack Taylor shot flicked the top of the crossbar before Surridge was sent off late on following an altercation with Josh Knight.

Michael O’Neill’s side calmed any fears of seeing two points slip away when Campbell coolly slotted home after being sent through by Vrancic’s lovely pass.