Luciano Becchio took his tally for the season to four goals as he scored twice to help Leeds win at Peterborough.

Becchio's first came in the seventh minute as Luke Varney crossed for the simplest of close-range finishes.

It was 2-0 shortly after the break when Ross McCormack picked out his Argentine strike partner to head home.

Posh got a goal back when Michael Bostwick seized on a poor clearance from David Norris and lashed home, but they were unable to get an equaliser.

It means Darren Ferguson's side have now lost their opening three games of the season for the first time since 1972.

In contrast, Leeds have taken six points from a possible nine.

Having being largely outclassed in midweek against Blackpool, Neil Warnock's side began this game with purpose and seized the initiative courtesy of Becchio's simple finish from 10 yards out.

The away side could have doubled their advantage before half time when McCormack went close with a 35th-minute header after Lee Peltier's run and cross.

However, it was not long into the second half that Leeds did strengthen their grip on the game as Becchio was again on hand for a straightforward close-range conversion, this time with his head.

But the home side refused to give in and were rewarded when Bostwick fired home.

Understandably, Leeds grew increasingly nervous, but some substitutions helped them regain their composure and hold on for the win - their 500th away from home in league football.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson:

"If we do the simple things right we are a good team. When we complicate things and make mistakes we have problems.

"I set targets for each of the nine blocks of five matches in a season.

"We are obviously well down on what I wanted for the first five matches and we really have to get something at Birmingham in our next game."

Leeds manager Neil Warnock:

"We looked dangerous, Luciano [Becchio] got his goals and we did a very professional job.

"You always get greedy when a couple of goals up but I thought we could have seen it out before Peterborough got their goal back.

"You can always be guaranteed that Peterborough will fight for their lives but we managed to get the win. Our back four and goalkeeper were also fantastic."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Peterborough United

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 03 Alcock (Little - 62' Booked )
  • 04 Brisley
  • 05 Zakuani Booked
  • 24 Ntlhe
  • 06 Bostwick
  • 11 McCann
  • 23 Frecklington (Swanson - 62' Booked )
  • 08 Tomlin
  • 10 Boyd
  • 12 Sinclair Booked (Taylor - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Day
  • 19 Little
  • 07 Swanson
  • 17 Newell
  • 20 Knight-Percival
  • 22 Clarke-Harris
  • 26 Taylor

Leeds United

  • 01 Kenny
  • 02 Peltier
  • 03 Drury
  • 04 Lees
  • 05 Pearce
  • 08 Austin
  • 11 Varney
  • 19 Norris
  • 10 Becchio (Gray - 87' )
  • 21 Diouf (Byram - 75' )
  • 44 McCormack (Poleon - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Ashdown
  • 06 Kisnorbo
  • 14 White
  • 17 Brown
  • 25 Byram
  • 20 Gray
  • 26 Poleon
Ref: Mathieson
Att: 10,432

Match Stats

Shots

13 9

On target

7 4

Corners

8 5

Fouls

13 17

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:46 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:12

Effort from outside the penalty area by Danny Swanson goes wide left of the target.

90:00 +3:59

Andy Gray is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

90:00 +3:32

Andy Gray fouled by Shaun Brisley, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Drury takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:59

Corner taken right-footed by Lee Peltier to the near post, Shaun Brisley makes a clearance.

90:00 +0:58

Danny Swanson produces a cross, clearance by Tom Lees.

89:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Taylor by Adam Drury. Shot comes in from Grant McCann from the free kick.

86:01 Substitution

Substitution Luciano Becchio leaves the field to be replaced by Andy Gray.

85:42

Effort from deep inside the area by Samuel Byram misses to the left of the target.

84:23

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Grant McCann, Header from close range by Gabriel Zakuani misses to the right of the target.

82:08

Adam Drury restarts play with the free kick.

82:08 Booking

Booking Danny Swanson goes into the book.

82:00

Danny Swanson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dominic Poleon.

80:34

Unfair challenge on Samuel Byram by Michael Bostwick results in a free kick. Lee Peltier takes the free kick.

79:29

Dominic Poleon concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Swanson. Shaun Brisley restarts play with the free kick.

78:00 Substitution

Substitution Ross McCormack goes off and Dominic Poleon comes on.

77:30

Grant McCann has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

74:52 Substitution

Substitution El-Hadji Diouf goes off and Samuel Byram comes on.

73:36

Shot by Paul Taylor from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

72:56

Grant McCann fouled by El-Hadji Diouf, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.

72:05 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Bostwick - Peterboro 1 - 2 Leeds Michael Bostwick scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Peterborough 1-2 Leeds.

71:31

Paul Taylor produces a cross, Lee Peltier gets a block in. Corner taken by Grant McCann, Rodolph Austin makes a clearance.

69:37

Adam Drury restarts play with the free kick.

69:37 Booking

Booking Mark Little receives a caution.

69:22

Mark Little gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Norris.

68:54

Foul by Luciano Becchio on Kgosi Ntlhe, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Gabriel Zakuani.

67:42

Unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Grant McCann results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

63:39 Substitution

Substitution Paul Taylor joins the action as a substitute, replacing Emile Sinclair.

62:27

Mark Little sends in a cross, Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant McCann from the left by-line.

61:42 Substitution

Substitution (Peterborough) makes a substitution, with Mark Little coming on for Craig Alcock.

61:07 Substitution

Substitution Danny Swanson replaces Lee Frecklington.

60:22

Inswinging corner taken by George Boyd from the right by-line played to the near post.

59:02

Adam Drury concedes a free kick for a foul on Grant McCann. Shot comes in from Grant McCann from the free kick.

58:40

The ball is swung over by Lee Tomlin, clearance by Jason Pearce.

55:03

Foul by Tom Lees on Lee Tomlin, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from Grant McCann from the free kick.

52:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kgosi Ntlhe on Ross McCormack. El-Hadji Diouf takes the direct free kick.

51:02

Lee Frecklington concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Varney. Free kick crossed by Ross McCormack, clearance by Lee Frecklington.

49:54

Assist by Ross McCormack.

49:54 Goal scored

Goal - Luciano Becchio - Peterboro 0 - 2 Leeds Luciano Becchio grabs a headed goal from inside the box. Peterborough 0-2 Leeds.

49:09

A cross is delivered by El-Hadji Diouf, clearance made by Craig Alcock. Adam Drury delivers the ball, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

48:46

The official flags George Boyd offside. Patrick Kenny takes the indirect free kick.

48:26

Centre by Shaun Brisley.

47:35

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save.

46:15

David Norris takes a shot. Save by Robert Olejnik.

45:31

Ross McCormack decides to take a short corner.

45:15

El-Hadji Diouf produces a cross, blocked by Kgosi Ntlhe.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +2:48 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luciano Becchio on George Boyd. Robert Olejnik takes the free kick.

43:59

Handball decision goes against Luke Varney. Direct free kick taken by Craig Alcock.

41:58

Jason Pearce gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Tomlin. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

40:54

Ross McCormack shoots direct from the free kick.

40:54 Booking

Booking Gabriel Zakuani goes into the book.

40:34

Gabriel Zakuani challenges Luciano Becchio unfairly and gives away a free kick.

39:54

The ball is swung over by Lee Peltier, Craig Alcock makes a clearance.

39:17

Luke Varney challenges Shaun Brisley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Olejnik takes the direct free kick.

38:31

Foul by Gabriel Zakuani on Luciano Becchio, free kick awarded. Tom Lees takes the free kick.

37:45

The ball is delivered by Emile Sinclair, clearance by Lee Peltier.

34:10

Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann from the left by-line, Tom Lees makes a clearance.

33:40

Grant McCann takes a shot. Rodolph Austin gets a block in.

33:04

The ball is delivered by Lee Peltier, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Ross McCormack misses to the left of the goal.

30:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gabriel Zakuani by Ross McCormack. Grant McCann restarts play with the free kick. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann played to the near post, clearance by Luke Varney.

30:19

El-Hadji Diouf handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Tomlin.

28:51

Rodolph Austin concedes a free kick for a foul on George Boyd. Free kick taken by Lee Tomlin.

27:33

Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

27:33 Booking

Booking The referee shows Emile Sinclair a yellow card.

26:30

The ball is sent over by Luke Varney. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Peltier by Emile Sinclair.

26:06

Ross McCormack takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Bostwick.

25:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gabriel Zakuani by Luke Varney. Robert Olejnik takes the direct free kick.

23:33

Corner from the right by-line taken by Grant McCann, Gabriel Zakuani concedes a free kick for a foul on Luciano Becchio. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

23:11

A cross is delivered by Emile Sinclair, Tom Lees manages to make a clearance.

22:33

A cross is delivered by Ross McCormack, Header from deep inside the area by Luciano Becchio goes over the bar.

20:48

Unfair challenge on Gabriel Zakuani by Luciano Becchio results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Gabriel Zakuani.

18:46

Unfair challenge on Lee Frecklington by Rodolph Austin results in a free kick. The ball is crossed by Grant McCann, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Shaun Brisley misses to the left of the goal.

17:58

El-Hadji Diouf crosses the ball.

17:18

The referee blows for offside against George Boyd. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

15:36

Ross McCormack takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Grant McCann makes a clearance.

15:36

Tom Lees takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Grant McCann makes a clearance.

11:56

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann, Shaun Brisley takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.

10:31

George Boyd concedes a free kick for a foul on Rodolph Austin. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

9:35

Adam Drury gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Frecklington. Craig Alcock takes the free kick.

8:08

Adam Drury gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on George Boyd. Craig Alcock restarts play with the free kick.

6:37

Assist by Luke Varney.

6:37 Goal scored

Goal - Luciano Becchio - Peterboro 0 - 1 Leeds Luciano Becchio gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Peterborough 0-1 Leeds.

5:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Lees on Shaun Brisley. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

4:52

Corner taken right-footed by Ross McCormack.

4:18

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ross McCormack.

3:03

Shaun Brisley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio. Strike comes in from Ross McCormack from the free kick, save made by Robert Olejnik.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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