Liam Dickinson shone for Peterborough as his debut goal helped them to a 3-1 win over Ipswich.
Peterborough claim three-point haul over relegation rivals
Liam Dickinson was at the hub of all things good for Peterborough as his debut goal helped the Championship strugglers to a 3-1 win over Ipswich.
Jim Gannon's Posh went about it the hard way though as they had to come from behind to steal a win against an Ipswich side who have worries of their own.
Ipswich had the better of the first 45 minutes of a typically combative relegation scrap and went ahead through Daryl Murphy's third goal in as many games since joining on loan from Sunderland.
But Dickinson then scored a free-kick and made a goal for midfielder Lee Frecklington after the break as Jim Gannon picked up his second successive home win since replacing Mark Cooper this month.
Defender Craig Morgan added a third late on to add some gloss to the victory.
Posh still look destined for League One - they remain nine points from safety - but they may yet be joined in relegation by Roy Keane's men, who faded badly in the second of four consecutive away games and are just a point above the drop zone themselves.
Bold system
Gannon's side lined up in a bold formation featuring just two out-and-out defenders but they should have fallen behind inside three minutes.
Murphy flicked on a ball forward for David Healy to run onto but Joe Lewis made a brave stop at his feet.
The England Under 21 goalkeeper required treatment after colliding with Healy but was fit to continue.
However his presence was negligible as the visitors did go ahead in the ninth minute.
Grant Leadbitter delivered a corner from the left which Lewis failed to claim, and Murphy was left free to head into an empty net from on the line.
It was rank bad defending from Posh, and Keane's side came close to extending their lead in a dominant opening quarter of an hour through captain Jon Walters and Murphy again.
Healy had the ball in the net before the break but only after David Norris had handled as the sides went in for half-time.
The home side were in trouble but evidently took some inspiration from Gannon's team-talk as they drew level in the 47th minute.
Substitute Reuben Reid was hacked down 25 yards from goal and Dickinson took full advantage. Dickinson rolled the ball to Lee Frecklington who stopped it dead, and the on-loan Brighton forward curled the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner.
Keane was furious on the touchline but Ipswich reacted well, Murphy twice threatening to break clear and Healy seeing another goal chalked off after the ball had ran out of play in the build up.
The game was now vastly improved, and only a superb tackle from Grant Leadbitter denied Posh midfielder Josh Simpson a clear run on goal as both sides committed men forward.
Attack minded
Norris then saw a shot deflected just wide with Lewis beaten before Frecklington put the hosts ahead with an excellent goal in the 63rd minute.
Posh kept the ball for an extended period of passing in midfield as they stretched Ipswich, and when the ball eventually made its way up to Dickinson he was able to lay it off into Frecklington's path.
The former Lincoln man strode into the area and planted an assured finish past Arran Lee-Barrett from just inside the area.
Chris Whelpdale and Dickinson were both denied a third by Lee-Barrett but there was no stopping Morgan's 85th-minute effort as the centre-half powered a header into the roof of the net from a left-wing corner.
