Match ends, Peterborough United 1, Southend United 4.
Southend's fine form continued with an emphatic victory at promotion rivals Peterborough lifting the Essex club up to fifth in League One.
Posh were counting the cost of last Saturday's defeat at Walsall which deprived manager Grant McCann of three of his first-choice midfielders to injury and suspension.
Lively front men Craig Mackail-Smith and Junior Morais toiled for the hosts but found Southend's defenders in miserly mood.
Yet the match between the two play-off hopefuls soon followed the pattern of the respective clubs' progress of recent weeks, with Southend slowly turning the screw on their faltering opponents.
Ryan Inniss had just hit a Posh post after a smart turn and shot when Jason Demetriou broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.
The Cyprus international full-back glanced home Marc-Antoine Fortune's deflected cross to bag his first goal for the Shrimpers.
Phil Brown's men came on even stronger after the break and Fortune slotted home a through ball from Anthony Wordsworth on the hour.
The points were all but sealed four minutes later when Wordsworth took advantage of Posh's dithering defenders to crash in Southend's third goal from 18 yards.
Peterborough substitute Tom Nichols hit a classy consolation from Marcus Maddison's pass, but Michael Timlin fired in a fourth for the visitors in time added on.
Match report supplied by the Press Association
Line-ups
Peterborough
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McGee
- 2Smith
- 6Baldwin
- 5Tafazolli
- 3Hughes
- 11Maddison
- 4Bostwick
- 18Da Silva Lopes
- 36SamuelsenSubstituted forTaylorat 66'minutes
- 13Mackail-Smith
- 37MoriasSubstituted forNicholsat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Angol
- 10Taylor
- 12Ball
- 14Tyler
- 16Inman
- 21Nichols
- 29Binnom-Williams
Southend
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Smith
- 24Demetriou
- 33Inniss
- 5Thompson
- 3Coker
- 8Timlin
- 18Leonard
- 4Wordsworth
- 17McGlashanSubstituted forRobinsonat 66'minutes
- 10CoxBooked at 25minsSubstituted forRangerat 74'minutes
- 14FortunéSubstituted forO'Neillat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2White
- 7O'Neill
- 16Amos
- 29Nouble
- 31Robinson
- 40Bexon
- 50Ranger
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 4,597
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away8
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Peterborough United 1, Southend United 4.
Goal!
Goal! Peterborough United 1, Southend United 4. Michael Timlin (Southend United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nile Ranger.
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Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Ted Smith.
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Attempt saved. Paul Taylor (Peterborough United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt saved. Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Foul by Luke O'Neill (Southend United).
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Paul Taylor (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Luke O'Neill (Southend United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Andrew Hughes (Peterborough United).
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Hand ball by Ryan Tafazolli (Peterborough United).
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Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Michael Timlin.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Luke O'Neill replaces Marc-Antoine Fortuné.
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Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Jack Baldwin.
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Attempt blocked. Theo Robinson (Southend United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Goal!
Goal! Peterborough United 1, Southend United 3. Tom Nichols (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Marcus Maddison.
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Delay in match Ryan Inniss (Southend United) because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. Nile Ranger (Southend United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Paul Taylor (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.