Peterborough United’s League One campaign began with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Bradford City. Goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and substitute Nick Powell sealed the win for the Bantams, who dominated much of the match. The loss marks a tough start for Peterborough, who finished 17th last season with 52 points (15W-7D-21L) and a goal difference of 0 (62 scored, 62 conceded).
What happened in the match?
Bradford City controlled the first half, with Callum Connolly hitting the bar and Jake Beesley, Will Swan, and Josh Neufville going close. The deadlock was broken early in the second half when Gillesphey headed in Connolly’s corner. Peterborough nearly equalized when Harry Leonard’s shot hit the bar, but Bradford doubled their lead through Powell’s finish from Adam Phillips’ cross. The visitors were reduced to 10 men when David Okagbue received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Connolly.
Why it matters for Peterborough United
This defeat is a setback for Peterborough, who are looking to improve on last season’s 17th-place finish. With key players like S. Hughes and R. Adebisi currently sidelined, manager Graham Alexander will need to regroup quickly. The loss leaves them 41 points behind early leaders Lincoln, highlighting the challenge ahead.
What comes next?
Peterborough will aim to bounce back in their next fixture, knowing they need to address defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Bradford. With the season still in its early stages, there’s time to recover, but the team must respond quickly to avoid falling further behind.
