Chris O'Grady made an encouraging start to his Albion career in their penultimate pre-season friendly at Peterborough today.

The Seagulls' new striker set up an early goal for Shamir Fenelon in a 2-1 defeat at London Road.

O'Grady wasted no time making an impact after a rib injury ruled out the Barnsley buy at Crawley on Wednesday.

Neat control on the turn and a well-timed lay-off enabled the onrushing Fenelon to stroke Albion ahead after six minutes, the youngster's fourth goal of pre-season.

Kenny McEvoy hit the bar for Posh midway through the opening period. New dad Lewis Dunk, fresh from signing a four-year deal, and keeper Casper Ankergren also rescued Albion in a first half which included a World Cup style water break to help the players cope with sweltering temperatures.

Peterborough equalised after 56 minutes with a header by the prolific Britt Assombolonga from a corner which the diving Ankergren got a hand to but could not keep out.

Albion fell behind eight minutes later. Posh made nine simultaneous changes and two of the substitutes combined to put them ahead, Kyle Vassell glancing in Kane Ferdinand's right-wing cross. O'Grady impressed with his ball retention. He was an aerial threat as well before making way for former Peterborough favourite Craig Mackail-Smith as boss Sami Hyypia made a flurry of second half changes.

Aaron Hughes was handed his first start alongside Dunk after illness ruled out the Northern Ireland veteran at Crawley but fellow newcomer Nzuzi Toko (swollen knee) missed out again.

Albion complete their pre-season preparations against Southampton at the Amex on Thursday night before launching the Championship campaign at home to Sheffield Wednesday on August 9.

Albion (4-1-2-2-1): Ankergren; Bruno (Calderon 68), Dunk, Hughes, Chicksen (Maksimenko 68); Ince (Rea 84); Crofts (Forster-Caskey 46), Agustien; Fenelon, Buckley (LuaLua 68); O'Grady (Mackail-Smith 68). Subs not used: Walton, Greer, March, Harris.

Peterborough (4-4-2): Alnwick (Day 46); Bostwick (Ferdinand 60), Baldwin (Brisley 60), Zakuani (Santos 60), Ntihe (Luto 60); McEvoy (Smith 46), Payne (McCann 60), Anderson (Conlon 60), Taylor (Ajose 60); Assombalonga (Vassell 60), Washington (Barnett 60).

Referee: A. Woolmer.

Attendance: 1,777 (233 Albion).