Posh picked up a welcome three points with a comfortable 2-0 win over Milton Keynes Dons.
Peterborough United eased to a 2-0 win over Milton Keynes Dons at the Weston Homes Stadium as a goal in each half earned Grant McCann’s men a welcome victory and they could even afford to miss a second half spot-kick from skipper Jonson Clarke-Harris.
After a quiet opening to the game, Posh recorded back to back corner kicks on the quarter hour mark and both caused plenty of problems for the visitors, although goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, on-loan from Premier League side Chelsea, was well protected in the end.
Kwame Poku saw a shot blocked after a forceful run on 19 minutes before midfielder Jack Taylor sent a volley wide of the target. Harrison Burrows was cautioned for a foul on Tennal Watson on 26 minutes by referee David Rock.
Will Grigg followed him in the book for a foul by the touch-line. Clarke-Harris should have done better from the resulting free-kick, he met the Ward delivery well but powered his header wide of the target from close-range.
Clarke-Harris guided a header from a Burrows centre well wide of the target on 36 minutes as Posh tried to find the breakthrough. That breakthrough came a minute later as a well-timed pass from Poku picked out Joe WARD and his crisp strike found the bottom corner of the net.
Poku was denied well by goalkeeper Cumming two minutes later after cutting inside onto that trusty left-foot. On the stroke of half-time, Ward flashed a free-kick from a wide area inches past the far upright before two minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official.
Watson tested Blackmore with a low drive a minute into the second half, but the Academy graduate did well to hold. Posh doubled their lead moments later, a strong burst from Taylor from midfield and his slotted pass picked out JONES who finished confidently past Cumming.
MK Dons made a triple change just before the hour mark with former Posh striker and promotion winner Mo Eisa one of those to come into the action. Poku was denied by Cumming moments later after good work from Jones and from the next attack, Posh won a penalty as Clarke-Harris was wrestled to the floor by Jules.
However, Clarke-Harris saw his spot-kick saved by Cumming and that gave the visitors a visible lift as they piled forward. Burrows saw a stinging left-footed effort shovelled to safety on 81 minutes after good work from Poku in the approach play.
Burrows then flashed a shot inches over the top from the edge of the box as Posh continued to pepper the goal. Jones was next to try his luck but he fired wide of the near post after MK Dons got caught trying to play out from the back.
Blackmore produced his first save of the evening as the game moved into five minutes of added time, beating away a fierce effort from substitute Robson.
Posh: Blackmore, Watts, Edwards, Kent, Ward, Burrows, Fuchs (sub Kyprianou 72min), Jack Taylor, Poku, Jones, Clarke-Harris. Unused subs: Bergström, Knight, Mason-Clark, Joe Taylor, Butler, B. Thompson.
MK Dons: Cumming, O'Hora, Grigg (sub Eisa 58min), Devoy, Harvie, Holland (sub Grant 46min), Tucker (sub Robson 79min), Barry, Jules, McEacheran (sub Johnson 57min), Watson (sub Lawrence 58min). Unused subs: Ravizzoli, Smith.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1-0 MK Dons
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-0 MK Dons
Attendance: 8,391 (699 MK Dons fans)
Referee: David Rock