Posh 2, City 1

City's Christmas got off to a real bum note - thanks to a Posh backside.

Craig Morgan's late shot was flying harmlessly wide until it whacked against the posterior of unsuspecting team-mate Jeff Hughes, dramatically changed direction and flew past the helpless Donovan Ricketts.

Ricketts himself had already hit rock-bottom after presenting Peterborough with their first goal and the cheeky manner of Posh's winner added insult to sorely-injured pride.

Given their form at London Road, the result itself should have come as no real shock to City. Visit number 13 proved to be just as unlucky as the previous dozen on a ground where they have never won.

Big-spending Peterborough will feel they deserved the comeback win, given their total domination after the break. On possession and chances it's hard to argue but City were entitled to feel deflated with the freak nature of the decisive goal two minutes from time.

Stuart McCall must have cast a green eye at the talent at rival Darren Ferguson's disposal - talent that has cost mega-rich owner Darragh MacAnthony big bucks at this level.

As Paul Heckingbottom had said in the build-up, leaving London Road with a draw would have been a big point which few other teams can manage. City came annoyingly close to doing just that.

McCall attempted to shield Ricketts from the blame but the keeper's 56th-minute howler was the game's decisive moment.

All the good things that Ricketts did - and there was one blinding save from Craig Mackail-Smith ten minutes earlier - were forgotten when the Jamaican allowed a weak shot from Dean Keates to dribble loose from his grasp.

With 18 goals before Saturday, Aaron McLean was the last blue shirt City wanted to see making a beeline for the loose ball - he was never going to waste such a gift.

Up to that moment, Peterborough had good cause to feel cursed.

If you think City can be ropey at this time of the year, consider this. Over the past ten years Peterborough have won only twice in 26 attempts over the Christmas and New Year period.

Referee Darren Deadman was ironically in charge of their last win, against Bury two years ago, but if his presence against the Bantams was a good omen for Posh, you wouldn't have known it in the first half.

Deadman may live only 25 miles away but there was no hint of any local favours with two disputed penalty shouts.

Twice Posh were screaming for spot-kicks and Deadman remained unmoved. The second one, especially, looked nailed on when Darren Williams nudged McLean in the back after Omar Daley had coughed up possession on the edge of the box.

City certainly weren't going to moan about this referee.

At that stage, life seemed pretty perfect for the visitors as they hung on to a lead given them by man of the moment Kyle Nix.

The busy little midfielder stole in unnoticed by the Posh defence to nod home Heckingbottom's free-kick after 11 minutes and further strengthen his claims for the new contract that will surely be heading his way within the next few days.

It could have got even better seconds later as Peterborough, still stunned to be trailing, allowed Joe Colbeck away on the right. He delivered his best cross of the afternoon for the waiting Peter Thorne but Morgan just got there first to nick the ball off his head.

Thorne was again ploughing a lone furrow as McCall persisted with the five-man midfield he had employed at Chesterfield. That included Tom Penford, whose bright display in the reserves during the week had earned him a first start of the season.

Penford displayed some positive touches, though City were slowly pushed back as half-time approached. But they were defending as well as in the Valley Parade meeting in September and Posh boss Ferguson soon left the stand for the touchline to make his displeasure very clear.

Judging by Peterborough's response, he must have dished out a half-time "hairdryer" that his old man Sir Alex would have approved of. The home side came out early to be put through their paces with another vigorous warm-up - and then proceeded to put City through the mangle.

Having failed to test Ricketts once in 45 minutes, they did so twice inside the first two of the second half. Suddenly Mackail-Smith was everywhere; George Boyd pulled the strings behind the front two; Adam Newton galloped at will up the right flank.

The last thing City wanted was to hand them a cheap equaliser.

Once level, the pressure cranked up another notch or two. Keates wasted a free header from a superb cross from Boyd and Mackail-Smith blazed over after a slip from Heckingbottom.

The game was being played solely in the City half. Every clearance came straight back as the blue waves kept crashing against the overworked back four and there was another escape as Hughes smacked the bar.

McCall moved Nix to the left to put a brake on Newton, allowing Daley to drift into the middle. The unpredictable winger almost rewarded him with an outrageous lob from 40 yards which dropped inches away from the far post.

A City attack had been as rare as rain in the desert until then but belatedly they found a second wind - and should have come up with a second goal as Penford's cross located Thorne by the penalty spot.

The ball stuck under the striker's feet but he managed to dig it out to Colbeck, who scooped his shot a yard or so over the bar from ten yards.

But a gutsy draw still seemed secure - until the backside of on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Hughes had the final say.

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