A goal inside three minutes and a Kelly own goal straight after the restart sink a Posh side who had more of the ball and more of the shots
By Our Special Correspondent
Peterborough had more of the ball, more of the shots and more of them on target. They still lost, and the reason was as simple as it was painful: they were behind inside three minutes in front of 8,814 at the Weston Homes Stadium, and further behind within a minute of the second half.
It took Luton a shade over two minutes. A slick move ended with Kasey Palmer slipping Jordan Clark through, and Clark finished with his left foot.
Posh fight back, but the bar says no
To their credit, Posh didn't fold. Ethan Williams forced James Shea into an early save, Harry Leonard had a header saved on 12 minutes, and by the end of the half they were dominating the ball.
They should have been level on 34 minutes. A Harley Mills free-kick caused chaos in the box, and Leonard, on the floor by then, struck the crossbar. Williams and Liam Kelly both had long-range shots deflected behind, and Mills sent a late free-kick just wide.
A nightmare restart
Posh changed it at half-time, sending on Matthew Garbett and Brandon Khela for Harry Ashfield and Vernon Masara. Within a minute it was 2-0, and the goal was Peterborough's own: Palmer crossed and Kelly turned it into his own net.
Posh kept coming. Straight after the second goal Bolu Shofowoke nicked the ball between Shea and a defender and teed up Williams, whose shot was stopped on the line by Mads Andersen. Khela and Garbett both brought saves from Shea, Garbett sent another shot just wide, and Leonard had one saved and sent another wide. Sam Hughes, on for Carl Johnston, headed over from a set-piece on 82 minutes. It was his first appearance since May 2025.
Luton, who brought on Nahki Wells and Daniel Gore on the hour, finished the stronger. In the last few minutes Joe Johnson had two shots blocked, Mads Andersen had a header blocked from close range, and Bass saved from Jamie Donley in stoppage time.
The numbers that matter
Peterborough had 57 per cent of the ball and 16 shots to Luton's 11, six on target to three. But Shea made five saves, and Luton had the only goals, including one Posh scored for them.
Luton's run is now four straight League One wins. Peterborough, still missing Owura Edwards and Josh Feeney, are without a win in four and sit in the bottom four.
"Press play from last week"
Robbie Savage had heard himself say it all before.
I think you can press play from the interviews from last week and the week before, and it's the same. You can't start a game like that or a second half.
Robbie Savage, Peterborough United manager (PA)
We've hit the underside of the bar from four yards, we've had other great chances but we haven't taken them.
Robbie Savage
Jack Wilshere, with 12 points in 11 days, was happy to take a win that wasn't Luton's best.
We killed their energy and intensity with that early goal, but we lost our intensity and slowed down. The message was the same at half-time, about starting the half fast, and we managed to get that second goal.
LEAGUE ONE