It was Mansfield Town who packed a punch on Boxing Day as the Stags condemned Posh to a disappointing home defeat.
Manager Darren Ferguson described the first half display against Mansfield Town as 'indefensible' and it was that 45 minutes that ultimately cost Peterborough United on Boxing Day as a double from Will Evans and a towering header from Bailey Cargill sent the Stags home happy.
It was a nightmare start for Posh as CARGILL rose highest unchallenged to power home a header from a corner kick and within a few minutes, it was 2-0 as EVANS slid in at the back post.
Nick Bilokapic kept out further efforts from Evans and Louis Reed with only a snap-shot from Malik Mothersille warming the gloves of Christy Pym.
EVANS made it 3-0 from another free-header five minutes before the half-time break with Ferguson already preparing a triple change.
Cian Hayes tested Pym following a strong turn and run but the visitors were still posing a threat and Bilokapic did well to keep out Akins.
Archie Collins fired wide after a good move after the break with the lively Chris Conn-Clarke involved but aside from a flurry of cautions for the visitors, they were managing the game well.
Bilokapic had to keep out substitute Stephen Quinn and defender Oshilaja as the Stags threatened a fourth with Nevett shown a straight red card after a foul five minutes from time.
Posh: Bilokapic, Dornelly (sub Wallin 46min), Mills, Katongo, Nevett, De Havilland (sub O’Brien-Brady 73min), Collins, Randall (sub Conn-Clarke 46min), Jones (sub Kyprianou 46min), Mothersille, Hayes (sub Odoh 60min). Unused subs: Blackmore, Sparkes.
Mansfield: Pym, Hewitt, Cargill (sub McLoughlin 46min), Lewis (sub Boateng 70min), Akins, Bowery, Evans (sub Oates 77min), Baccus, Blake-Tracy (sub Kilgour 62min), Oshilaja, Reed (sub Quinn 70min). Unused subs: Flinders, Flint.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-3 Mansfield Town
Full-time: Peterborough United 0-3 Mansfield Town
Attendance: 9,985 (1,619 Mansfield fans)
Referee: J Miles