PETERBOROUGH United broke Albion hearts with two late goals after Ademola Ola-Adebomi’s first senior goal had looked like securing a point for the Brewers.
After a goalless first half Albion trailed to Ricky-Jade Jones’ header before the Crystal Palace loanee pounced to equalise.
Both sides refused to settle for a point but it was Posh who sealed victory with Josh Knight and Jonson-Clarke-Harris scoring late on to take all three points.
Martin Paterson made four changes for the visit of the Posh. Toto Nsiala returned to the side in place of Steve Seddon whilst the midfield got something of a refresh with Rekeem Harper and Bobby Kamwa both coming in for Ciaran Gilligan and Mark Helm. Joe Hugill replaced Ola-Adebomi in attack.
It was a game that took a while to really get going. John Brayford’s header was comfortable for Jed Steer in the Peterborough goal and Bobby Kamwa saw a long range piledriver take Archie Collins off his feet whilst Ricky-Jade Jones forced a save from Max Crocombe with his feet and Joel Randall’s low shot was comfortably gathered in by the Brewers keeper.
Joe Powell lashed a powerful left foot effort over the bar on twenty minutes as a neatly worked corner routine eventually saw the ball returned to the midfielder, more centrally placed.
Peterborough went close on 27 minutes when a deflected cross landed at the feet of Randall who appeared to have an easy sidefoot finish but Tolaji Bola was well placed to block his close-range effort.
Collins managed to find space 25 yards out to set his sights on goal, but Crocombe was able to cautiously see the ball go wide of his right-hand post.
The former Exeter midfielder was also denied by a lunging block by Brayford as half time approached.
Kamwa spurned the best chance of the half when good work from Oshilaja and Hugill on the edge of the penalty area led to the ball being cut back to the striker, but he lifted a sharp effort over the bar.
HALF TIME: BURTON ALBION 0-0 PETERBOROUGH UNITED
The visitors made a strong start to the second half and were in front on 56 minutes. Skipper Harrison Burrows found room for a probing cross from the left and JONES found the space to glance a close-range header past Crocombe.
Kamwa almost carved out an instant equaliser but after a sharp turn inside the box his effort was over.
Oshilaja went even closer with a header from Powell’s free kick that hit the base of the post before being hacked away by the Posh defence.
Albion switched to a back four just after the hour mark with Ola-Adebomi sent on for Brayford whilst Helm took over in midfield from Powell.
Albion continued to press, and a Hamer long throw reaped dividends as Ryan Sweeney helped it on and OLA-ADEBOMI got the final touch to see it over the line.
Another double change saw Steve Seddon and Mustapha Carayol enter the fray as Hugill and Kamwa came off.
Albion looked to be heading for a hard earned point but were denied when Knight lashed home a low drive with just a couple of minutes to go and a third goal in stoppage time from substitute Clarke-Harris was cruel on Albion, to say the least.
ALBION: Crocombe; Nsiala, Brayford (Ola-Adebomi, 63), Sweeney; Hamer, Powell (Helm, 63), Harper, Oshilaja, Kamwa (Seddon, 71) Bola; Hugill (Carayol, 71).
Substitutes: Blackman, Seddon, Carayol, Gilligan, Hackford.
GOALS: ALBION – Ola-Adebomi (70) ; PETERBOROUGH – Jones (56), Knight (88), Clarke-Harris (90+6)
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 3,641
