The number of photographers who crowded around the Peterborough United bench before kick-off at London Road last night suggested that a second famous victory in three days for a manager named Ferguson was the story that the world was waiting for. But Darren, the son of Sir Alex of Manchester United, was unable to deliver as his Coca-Cola League One side were put in their place by West Bromwich Albion.

It may have been especially galling for the clan that a player who belongs to Arsenal, one of Ferguson Sr’s many old enemies, inflicted the most serious wound. Jay Simpson, who is on loan to West Brom from the North London club, scored a stunning opener, after which Peterborough were never in the game. “When they went 1-0 up, they took complete control,” the younger Ferguson said. “It was disappointing to go out and so was the manner of it.” West Brom enjoy playing at London Road, having won here in both domestic cup competitions in the 2007-08 campaign, and looked much more like the confident promotion-bound outfit of last season than the team who lie bottom of the Barclays Premier League at present. “We are respectful of the job Darren has done here, but we won here twice last season and it has no fears for us,” Tony Mowbray, their manager, said.

Almost from the kick-off — delayed for 15 minutes by congestion outside the ground — Jonathan Greening and Robert Koren dominated the midfield and Gabriel Zakuani had to clear as the ball looped goalwards after Roman Bednar beat Joe Lewis, the Peterborough and England Under-21 goalkeeper, to Greening’s through-pass. Then Leon Barnett somehow headed wide from close range after Greening had picked him out.

Peterborough’s best chance came and went after nine minutes, when the West Brom defence failed to react to a hopeful ball forward and Charlie Lee lobbed inches wide. The visiting team made the breakthrough that their authority deserved nine minutes later as Simpson made a yard of space and struck a vicious shot into the far corner of the net from 25 yards. It was his third goal of the season, the other two coming for Arsenal against Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup.

Paul Robinson doubled the lead in the 37th minute, heading home his first goal of the season from Kim Do Heon’s cross. Peterborough looked nothing like a team who had lost only once in their previous 23 league and FA Cup games and were unable to provide any clear-cut chances for their highly rated strike partnership of Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean until the 63rd minute, when the latter was unable to convert the rebound after Scott Carson had parried Lee’s shot.

Peterborough United (4-4-2): J Lewis — R Martin, C Morgan, G Zakuani, T Williams — C Whelpdale, C Lee (sub: S Batt, 77min), D Keates, G Boyd — C Mackail-Smith, A Mclean. Substitutes not used: J McKeown, S Torres, D Green, L Webb, S Gaughran, D Blanchett.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): S Carson — C Hoefkens, L Barnett, R Donk, P Robinson — Kim Do Heon (sub: B Valero, 80), R Koren, J Greening, F Teixeira (sub: G Dorrans, 65) — J Simpson (sub: C Beattie, 71), R Bednar. Substitutes not used: D Kiely, C Brunt, L Moore, P Pelé. Booked: Donk.

Referee: A D’Urso.