Paddy McNair struck from the spot as Boro found their groove late on
Middlesbrough left it late to overcome struggling Peterborough as Paddy McNair and Josh Coburn netted to settle an otherwise unremarkable Championship game.
Northern Ireland international McNair had his shirt pulled in the box with five minutes to go, prompting referee John Busby to point to the spot, and keeper David Cornell was sent the wrong way.
Substitute Coburn added a second in injury time, connecting with Martin Payero's centre to condemn Posh to a sixth straight away defeat.
The Teessiders had the better of the game up to their final five-minutes flurry but looked as though they would have to share the spoils.
Onel Hernandez's shot being cleared off the line in first-half stoppage time was as close as they came despite plenty of effort from their attack, while Posh failed to register a shot on target in reply.
Home boss Neil Warnock had seen Boro lose three of their past four games going into the visit of second-bottom Peterborough, so this result will ease some of his immediate pressures.
However, while there was no faulting the endeavour of his forwards, who grafted and crafted without reward, Andraz Sporar, Hernandez, Marcus Tavernier, Uche Ikpeazu and Duncan Watmore all toiled against a Posh side with 23 goals scored against them before this game.
Peterborough's goal lived a charmed life until the late penalty award which finally sunk them.
In terms of their response, Sammie Szmodics tried to take the fight to the hosts, while Jorge Grant had a header sail over the top.
All too often though they lacked a cutting edge to go with some tidy play.
Only Derby's points deduction keeps Posh off the foot of the table, as they seek to avoid an immediate League One return this season.
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"It was there for the taking. You could see the way the game was going, we were in control for large parts, but the quality wasn't there in the final third attack-wise.
"We had many opportunities to pick them off, it was the final ball, final weight of pass, final decision. It wasn't good enough.
"Whether it's a penalty or not, I don't know, but he's given it and if you keep wasting opportunities like we did. At times we were four versus three. That's the reason why I felt we lost the game."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Lumley16Howson22Bamba17McNair7Tavernier25Crooks10Payero8Hernández18Watmore9Ikpeazu11Sporar
- 1Lumley16Howson22Bamba17McNair7Tavernier25Crooks10PayeroBooked at 45mins8Hernández18WatmoreSubstituted forLéa Silikiat 88'minutes9IkpeazuBooked at 67minsSubstituted forJonesat 74'minutes11SporarSubstituted forCoburnat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Olusanya23Léa Siliki28Daniels30Kokolo35Jones37Coburn
Peterborough
Formation 5-4-1
13Cornell4Thompson12Knight2Edwards5Beevers3Butler11Grant18Norburn8Taylor7Szmodics10Dembélé
- 13CornellBooked at 84mins4ThompsonSubstituted forKanuat 90'minutes12Knight2EdwardsBooked at 35mins5Beevers3Butler11GrantSubstituted forBurrowsat 77'minutes18Norburn8TaylorBooked at 22mins7SzmodicsBooked at 49mins10DembéléSubstituted forWardat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Kent16Burrows19Kanu20Coventry21Tomlinson23Ward28Blackmore
Referee:John BusbyMatch StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamPeterboroughPossessionHome40%Away60%ShotsHome17Away6Shots on TargetHome5Away0CornersHome4Away3FoulsHome8Away11Live TextPost update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Peterborough United 0.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Peterborough United 0.
90'+4'goalGoal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Peterborough United 0. Josh Coburn (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by MartÃn Payero.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Josh Knight.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Peterborough United. Idriss Kanu replaces Nathan Thompson.
89'Post update
Foul by Sammie Szmodics (Peterborough United).
89'Post update
Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. James Léa Siliki replaces Duncan Watmore because of an injury.
85'Post update
Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Peterborough United 0. Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
84'Booking
David Cornell (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card.
84'Post update
Penalty conceded by Nathan Thompson (Peterborough United) after a foul in the penalty area.
84'Post update
Penalty Middlesbrough. Patrick McNair draws a foul in the penalty area.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Josh Coburn replaces Andraz Sporar.
82'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Oliver Norburn.
82'Post update
Attempt blocked. Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Beevers (Peterborough United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross following a set piece situation.
81'Post update
Nathan Thompson (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81'Post update
Foul by Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough).
78'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Josh Knight.
77'Substitution
Substitution, Peterborough United. Harrison Burrows replaces Jorge Grant.
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Source: bbc.com