Peterborough United won for their first time in eight games as they comfortably beat Bristol City at London Road.

Recalled Lee Tomlin gave the hosts an early lead, nodding in after Liam Fontaine had cleared off the line.

City started the second half brightly, but Posh killed off their comeback on the hour mark when David Ball lashed into the top corner.

Tomlin added his second late on, tapping in Emile Sinclair's pass for Posh's third to wrap up victory.

With Manchester United out of the FA Cup, Sir Alex Ferguson was at London Road to watch his son Darren's side in action.

Peterborough enjoyed the best of the first half, Gabriel Zakuani heading against the bar, while Ball came close following Tomlin's opener.

Visiting manager Derek McInnes switched to 4-4-2 at half-time and his tactical change appeared to be paying off when City bombarded the Posh goal at the start of the second period.

Posh keeper Paul Jones was in inspired form, saving from Fontaine and Albert Adomah before punching clear Chris Wood's header.

However, Ball struck against the run of play, skipping past two markers before firing home.

Chances dried up as the match went on, before Tomlin celebrated his return to the starting line-up with an easy second goal.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Peterborough United

  • 28 Jones
  • 03 Briggs
  • 04 R Bennett
  • 05 Zakuani
  • 27 Alcock
  • 11 McCann
  • 23 Frecklington (Tunnicliffe - 80' )
  • 08 Tomlin
  • 09 Ball (Sinclair - 72' )
  • 10 Boyd
  • 26 Taylor (Kearns - 85' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Lewis
  • 02 Little
  • 16 Tunnicliffe
  • 21 Kearns
  • 12 Sinclair

Bristol City

  • 01 James
  • 04 Fontaine
  • 26 Foster
  • 28 McManus (Wilson - 63' )
  • 36 McGivern
  • 07 Elliott
  • 08 Kilkenny (Bolasie - 75' )
  • 21 Cisse (Wood - 46' )
  • 27 Adomah
  • 37 Pearson Booked
  • 34 Pitman

Substitutes

  • 22 Gerken
  • 18 Wilson
  • 17 Bolasie
  • 09 Stead
  • 39 Wood
Ref: Phillips
Att: 7,004

Match Stats

Shots

19 13

On target

10 6

Corners

5 5

Fouls

6 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:13 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +2:52

Yannick Bolasie takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.

90:00 +2:29

Ryan Tunnicliffe takes a shot. David James makes a save.

90:00 +1:58

Centre by Richard Foster, clearance made by Ryan Tunnicliffe.

90:00 +0:09

The assistant referee flags for offside against Emile Sinclair. Indirect free kick taken by Liam Fontaine.

88:56

Brett Pitman takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Gabriel Zakuani.

87:52

Effort from outside the penalty box by Albert Adomah goes wide right of the goal.

87:44

The ball is crossed by Ryan McGivern, clearance by Gabriel Zakuani.

85:37

Albert Adomah gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on George Boyd. Matthew Briggs takes the direct free kick.

85:10

Marvin Elliott challenges Lee Tomlin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.

84:20 Substitution

Substitution Paul Taylor leaves the field to be replaced by Daniel Kearns.

83:36

The assist for the goal came from Emile Sinclair.

83:36 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Tomlin - Peterboro 3 - 0 Bristol C Lee Tomlin fires in a goal from inside the area high into the middle of the goal. Peterborough 3-0 Bristol City.

82:39

Grant McCann takes the free kick.

82:39 Booking

Booking Stephen Pearson is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

82:11

Stephen Pearson challenges Lee Tomlin unfairly and gives away a free kick.

80:31

The ball is delivered by Ryan McGivern, Effort from deep inside the area by Marvin Elliott misses to the right of the target.

79:08 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Tunnicliffe joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lee Frecklington.

79:04

Albert Adomah produces a cross.

78:08

Shot from inside the six-yard box by Emile Sinclair goes wide right of the goal.

77:41

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Save by David James.

76:51

Grant McCann takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

76:31

Paul Taylor takes a shot. Blocked by Ryan McGivern.

76:13

A cross is delivered by Richard Foster, clearance made by Gabriel Zakuani.

75:41

Shot from outside the box by Albert Adomah goes wide right of the target.

74:47

Outswinging corner taken by Brett Pitman from the right by-line, Chris Wood takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.

74:35 Substitution

Substitution Yannick Bolasie replaces Neil Kilkenny.

74:17

The ball is crossed by Craig Alcock, Liam Fontaine manages to make a clearance.

71:19 Substitution

Substitution David Ball leaves the field to be replaced by Emile Sinclair.

70:33

Foul by Ryan Bennett on James Wilson, free kick awarded. Neil Kilkenny takes the free kick.

70:18

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. David James makes a save.

66:24

Albert Adomah fouled by Lee Frecklington, the ref awards a free kick. Brett Pitman delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.

66:24

Lee Frecklington concedes a free kick for a foul on Albert Adomah. Strike on goal comes in from Brett Pitman from the free kick.

65:37

Lee Frecklington concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Foster. Ryan McGivern takes the direct free kick.

64:54

Albert Adomah crosses the ball, Gabriel Zakuani makes a clearance.

62:54 Substitution

Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with James Wilson coming on for Stephen McManus.

61:39

Grant McCann provided the assist for the goal.

61:39 Goal scored

Goal - David Ball - Peterboro 2 - 0 Bristol C David Ball scores a goal from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Peterborough 2-0 Bristol City.

57:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on George Boyd by Liam Fontaine. Grant McCann fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

56:35

Foul by Albert Adomah on Matthew Briggs, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Briggs.

56:20

Grant McCann concedes a free kick for a foul on Brett Pitman. Direct free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.

56:07

The ball is sent over by George Boyd, David James makes a save.

55:29

Matthew Briggs has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

54:16

Grant McCann has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

52:16

Brett Pitman takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Stephen McManus takes a shot. Lee Frecklington manages to make a clearance.

52:04

Chris Wood takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

50:31

Foul by Lee Tomlin on Stephen McManus, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Stephen McManus.

50:12

Craig Alcock takes a shot. Save by David James.

48:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marvin Elliott on Grant McCann. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Grant McCann.

47:28

Corner taken right-footed by Brett Pitman from the right by-line, Liam Fontaine takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

45:49

Close range strike by Brett Pitman goes over the bar.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Chris Wood comes on in place of Kalifa Cisse.

45:00 +2:17 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:46

Effort from inside the area by Brett Pitman misses to the right of the target.

45:00 +0:10

The ball is swung over by David Ball.

44:42

Shot from just outside the box by Marvin Elliott goes over the crossbar.

41:47

The ball is swung over by Ryan McGivern.

37:57

Stephen Pearson concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Taylor. Free kick crossed left-footed by Grant McCann, clearance made by Stephen McManus.

37:22

Lee Tomlin takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

36:00

Shot from just outside the box by Kalifa Cisse goes over the bar.

35:54

A cross is delivered by Marvin Elliott, clearance made by Ryan Bennett.

31:01

Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann from the left by-line, Gabriel Zakuani takes a shot.

30:00

George Boyd fouled by Kalifa Cisse, the ref awards a free kick. Grant McCann takes the free kick.

28:01

Ryan McGivern crosses the ball, Lee Frecklington makes a clearance.

27:01

David Ball takes a shot. Save made by David James.

25:54

David Ball is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Stephen McManus.

24:40

Foul by Kalifa Cisse on George Boyd, free kick awarded. George Boyd takes the free kick.

23:05

Corner taken by Grant McCann, Ryan Bennett concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Fontaine. Direct free kick taken by David James.

22:45

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Fontaine.

21:03

Centre by Albert Adomah, clearance made by Gabriel Zakuani.

19:47

Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann to the near post, Headed effort from inside the area by Lee Tomlin misses to the right of the goal.

19:40

Centre by Paul Taylor, blocked by Ryan McGivern.

16:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on George Boyd by Marvin Elliott. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.

15:41

The ball is delivered by Paul Taylor, clearance by Neil Kilkenny.

11:38

Inswinging corner taken by Brett Pitman from the left by-line.

8:46

Matthew Briggs produces a cross.

6:45

Assist by George Boyd.

6:45 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Tomlin - Peterboro 1 - 0 Bristol C Lee Tomlin finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Peterborough 1-0 Bristol City.

6:32

David Ball sends in a cross, George Boyd takes a shot. Liam Fontaine makes a clearance.

4:33

Foul by Stephen Pearson on Lee Frecklington, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.

0:32

Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann from the right by-line, David James makes a save.

0:13

Lee Frecklington produces a cross, Stephen McManus makes a clearance.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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