Peterborough’s Darren Ferguson ’embarrassed’ by first-half display at Accrington

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said he was “embarrassed” by his side’s first-half performance as they lost 2-1 to League Two Accrington in the Carabao Cup.

Stanley got off to a dream start when a Freddie Sass long throw fell to Alex Henderson and he fired home with just 37 seconds on the clock.

The Reds grabbed a second in the 25th minute when Henderson’s cross was tapped home by Kelsey Mooney.

Posh got one back after 79 minutes when Archie Collins headed home a Cian Hayes cross, but Ferguson admitted that was too little, too late.

“We didn’t do the basics,” Ferguson said. “They scored the first goal without us touching the ball and then, from another set piece, we find ourselves 2-0 down.

“When you concede after 30 seconds, they can just sit back and it changes the game. You can’t give yourselves a mountain to climb.

“In the second half we woke up but it’s too late. Why does it take a rollicking to get a reaction? It’s too late.

“I try to stay positive but I find it hard to defend that first half. I’m embarrassed by the first half. There was no desire. It’s a really disappointing night.”

Stanley boss John Doolan, whose side came through a preliminary round, said: “I am delighted with the performance, it was a battling performance, the back five were outstanding.

“I couldn’t fault the way we went about it.

“We work on stuff like the long throws and it’s come off for us.

“We set a plan out, we knew how Peterborough were going to play and I couldn’t fault the lads in terms of desire, attitude and resilience.”