POSH REACTION: Ben loves a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 win!

Posh had to play the final 20 minutes with nine men following the dismissals of defenders Michael Smith and Ricardo Santos, but they held on to a second-half goal from debutant Tom Nichols to kick-start a promotion push that had started to flag.

Posh moved up two places to eighth after a first win in four League One matches, but remain three points outside the play-off places.

Alnwick said: “These sort of wins are my favourites. I know this club likes to win 5-4 or 4-0, but a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 victory when events are conspiring against you is just as important.

“The lads were unbelievable. It wasn’t pretty as we just had to cling on for dear life with nine men, but the lads showed how much they wanted to win buy continually putting their bodies on the line. They weren’t going to get through us. The likes of Harry Beautyman and Gaby Zakuani were superb when they came on. It was a great effort by the whole team.

“The wind and the pitch didn’t allow us to play our best football, but we deserved to win for our battling qualities and hopefully this result will enable us to kick on again in the league.

“We’ve felt the pressure a bit because we know what is expected of us and we had dropped off the pace a bit, but we showed in the second-half at West Brom last weekend that we were on the way back and this performance confirmed it.

“At this stage of the season, especially when the weathr is bad, the ability to grind out wins is vital.”

Alnwick almost capped a fine personal day with an unlikely goal as his wind-assisted punt almost caught out opposite number Tommy Lee in the final minutes.

“When I kicked it I looked across at the manager and he was fuming at me,” Alnwick added. “He wanted me to kick down a channel, but instead it went straight down the middle of the pitch. Obviously it would have been a lucky goal, but I’d have taken it. Tommy actually made a great save.

“I’m not sure how much I would have celebrated it out of respect for a fellow goalkeeper, but I’d have been happy inside!”

Posh are next in action on Wednesday (February 10) when out-of-form Premier League side West Brom visit the ABAX Stadium for a fourth round FA Cup replay which will be screened live on BBC One.

Posh have defensive problemss to solve before then as Smith and Santos will now be suspended. Centre-back Jack Baldwin missed the Chesterfield game with a back injury so Zakuani, who is far from fully fit. may be pressed into action.

Tickets for the tie are available from www.theposhtickets.com. Over 7,000 had been sold by close of business on Friday (February 5).