REACTION: Ferguson says the three points are 'all that matters' for Posh

A first-half Rasmus Nicolaisen own goal was the difference between the sides, as Posh moved to within three points of Sky Bet League One leaders Hull City, with two games in hand.

Posh were made to fight all the way for the win by an out-of-form Pompey on a desperately poor pitch, but they dug in to claim the three points and that delighted the manager.

“It is all that matters at the minute, the three points I have to be honest," said Ferguson.

"It was very scrappy, but we dug it out. We tried to play as best as we could, but the pitch made it difficult, it was more of a dogged performance, but sometimes they are the best victories."

Pompey set their stall out very defensively in the first half, before being arguably the better team in the second half.

But they were still restricted to very few chances, and Ferguson declared: "I thought we were comfortable.

"They have almost gone 5-4-1 at times and although we were comfortable in possession, it was a bit difficult to break them down.

"We changed it after about 20 minutes and that helped us.

"The second half became a scrap, we had to fight, we had to dig in and the one goal deficit for them kept them in the game.

"We had to defend well. It was an important win for us.”

Elsewhere in league one, third-placed Lincoln City were beaten 3-0 at home by Gillingham, while there were defeats for Doncaster Rovers and Ipswich Town.

Fourth-placed Sunderland play on Wednesday night when they travel to Accrington Stanley.