Match ends, Peterborough United 2, Preston North End 0.
PeterboroughPeterborough United2PrestonPreston North End0
Manager Graham Westley put one over on former club Preston North End as League One Peterborough progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Posh went ahead early on when Martin Samuelsen struck into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
Conor Washington, a reported target for Championship clubs, headed home Michael Smith's cross to double their lead.
Joe Garner hit the post for Preston, but that was the closest the visitors came to a response.
Preston had the majority of possession for much of the second half, also coming close when Eoin Doyle's close-range effort was kept out by Ben Alnwick and Tom Clarke had a header cleared off the line.
But victory over a side he was in charge of for 13 months will give Westley a boost as Posh also push for a place in the play-offs.
They started the better and after on-loan West Ham midfielder Samuelsen put them ahead, forward Lee Angol had a strike ruled out for a foul by Washington in the build-up.
Harry Beautyman then saw a volley tipped brilliantly over the bar by North End keeper Chris Kirkland.
But before the break Doyle should probably have had Simon Grayson's side level when he broke the offside trap but fired over when one-on-one.
Preston were made to pay when Washington, the subject of three failed bids in the last week, according to chairman Darragh MacAnthony, headed Smith's excellent delivery past the despairing Kirkland to seal his 13th goal in 14 matches.
Peterborough boss Graham Westley told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "We did the job we set out to do. We knew they hadn't conceded (many) in the first 15 and we knew it would be a blow to them if we managed to get that goal.
"It was a resilient performance, a controlled performance, excellent second goal, and from then on it was a matter of taking the game home.
"The challenge for Conor is not only does someone come in with a sensible enough bid that the club decides to agree terms, but does he accept the Championship, rather than the Premier League?
"The lad's such a high-quality player, with such a good goalscoring record, maybe he might let himself down in going to the Championship."
Preston manager Simon Grayson: "We created chances but we didn't show enough quality or desire to turn half chances into goal. We didn't test the keeper enough.
"When you get opportunities you need to take them and punish the opposition. We didn't do that today and it's disappointing."
Line-ups
Peterborough
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 1Alnwick
- 2Smith
- 6BaldwinBooked at 49mins
- 12Almeida SantosBooked at 33mins
- 38Wilson
- 33ForresterBooked at 45mins
- 10OztumerSubstituted forMaddisonat 72'minutes
- 16Beautyman
- 36SamuelsenSubstituted forFoxat 90+2'minutes
- 14Washington
- 24AngolSubstituted forCoulibalyat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Maddison
- 18Fox
- 20Anderson
- 22Da Silva Lopes
- 26Henry
- 28Coulibaly
- 35Addison
Preston
Formation 3-5-2
- 43Kirkland
- 5ClarkeBooked at 81mins
- 23Huntington
- 3Cunningham
- 2Vermijl
- 22BrownhillSubstituted forRobinsonat 56'minutes
- 19WelshSubstituted forGallagherat 48'minutes
- 16Browne
- 32ReachBooked at 70mins
- 13DoyleSubstituted forHugillat 75'minutes
- 14Garner
Substitutes
- 6Wright
- 8Kilkenny
- 12Gallagher
- 15Woods
- 25Hugill
- 37Robinson
- 40Hudson
- Referee:
- Tony Harrington
- Attendance:
- 7,665
Match Stats
Home TeamPeterboroughAway TeamPreston
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Peterborough United 2, Preston North End 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alan Browne (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Souleymane Coulibaly (Peterborough United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Greg Cunningham (Preston North End).
Substitution
Substitution, Peterborough United. Andrew Fox replaces Martin Samuelsen.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Conor Washington.
Post update
Foul by Paul Gallagher (Preston North End).
Post update
Martin Samuelsen (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Greg Cunningham (Preston North End).
Post update
Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jordan Hugill (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Greg Cunningham (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Conor Washington (Peterborough United).
Booking
Tom Clarke (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Tom Clarke (Preston North End).
Post update
Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Hugill (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Lawrie Wilson.
