Baggies too strong for Posh

The class of on-loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson inspired West Brom to earn a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup as Peterborough were consigned to a 2-0 defeat.

Simpson's 18th-minute strike helped the Baggies to overcome a potentially tricky third-round replay at London Road.

United were dreaming of an upset after drawing 1-1 with Albion at The Hawthorns 10 days ago, but a second goal eight minutes before the interval from defender Paul Robinson crushed their hopes.

Albion should have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Leon Barnett headed a cross from Jonathan Greening inches wide of the far post.

But the League One side gave Albion a real scare moments later when Charlie Lee took advantage of some indecision in the Albion defence.

The midfielder burst into the penalty area and was ready to celebrate an opening goal but his clever chip fell the wrong side of Scott Carson's right-hand post.

But Simpson settled Albion's nerves with the opener - his first since joining the club from the Gunners.

Simpson, on-loan until the end of the season, collected a pass from Roman Bednar, swivelled on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a rasping 20-yard shot into the corner of net.

Peterborough had to rely on goalkeeper Joe Lewis to prevent Bednar from increasing Albion's lead in the 33rd minute. The striker weaved his way into the penalty area and was invited to shoot by Peterborough's back-pedalling defence. The Albion striker seized his opportunity but Joe Lewis dived low to deny him.

But the second goal, which Albion had threatened since Simpson's opener, arrived in the 37th minute. A superb curling cross from the right flank by Kim Do-Heon was met by an unmarked Robinson at the far post. The Albion defender sent a powerful downward header into the far corner with Lewis unable to get a hand to it.