New Leyton Orient manager Fabio Liverani suffered a 2-1 defeat in his first game in charge after losing to Peterborough at Brisbane Road this afternoon.

Peterborough punished the O’s as they opened the scoring with their first opportunity through Aaron McLean’s ninth minute finish. But the hosts deservedly levelled before the break through Shaun Batt’s low shot.

The Posh regained the lead at the start of the second half when Erhun Oztumer curled a superb free-kick into the net. Orient failed to trouble their opponents and the defeat left the Italian boss with plenty to ponder as the side dropped into the relegation zone.

Liverani was forced into playing Batt on his own up front with David Mooney ruled out with a hamstring injury and Gianvito Plasmati unavailable.

Orient got off to a lively start and were only denied an early goal when Dean Cox’s effort was blocked on the line by Kgosi Ntlhe.

But the visitors pounced with their first chance of the game as McLean volleyed in from close range to score against his former club.

Cox had a chance from a free-kick outside the area but his strike was always going too high over the bar.

Batt fired in his first shot of the game his effort was comfortably saved by former O’s keeper Ben Alnwick.

The O’s grabbed an equaliser in the 39th minute when Cox played the ball in and Batt fired a low shot into the net past Alnwick for his first goal of the season.

Orient had a let off shortly afterwards when Adam Legzdins flapped at the ball but Harry Beautyman could only volley wide from close range.

B ut Peterborough regained the lead just after the restart with an excellent free-kick from Oztumer beating Legzdins.

The O’s looked for a quick response but Bradley Pritchard could only volley a shot well over the bar.

Liverani made his first substitution when he introduced Jay Simpson in place of goalscorer Batt.

But the hosts were struggling to create chances as the clock ticked down with Peterborough looking increasingly comfortable. 

Orient made a second change with debutant 16-year-old forward Ayomide Adeboyejo replacing Jobi McAnuff late on.

Josh Wright went close for the O's but the midfielder's shot was blocked by Alnwick's legs.

There were six minutes of injury time but Orient could not equalise against the Posh, despite a second booking for Joe Newell, and Liverani's opening game ended with a disappointing home defeat. 

Leyton Orient: Legzdins; Sawyer, Lowry, Clarke, Cuthbert; Cox, Wright, Pritchard, Vincelot, McAnuff (Adeboyejo, 84); Batt (Simpson, 63)

Subs not used: Baudry, Lee, Omozusi, Kashket, Woods

Peterborough: Alnwick; Bostwick, Zakuani, Burgess, Ntlhe; Beautyman (Anderson, 85), Oztumer, Payne, Newell; McLean, Mackail-Smith

Subs not used: Day, Smith, James, Vassell, Washington, Mendez-Laing

Referee: Kevin Johnson

Attendance: 5,546