Peterborough United ended 2004 on a dour note and the start to 2005 was not much better as Bristol City claimed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Peterborough United at Ashton Gate, but the talk in the press box was of a supposed 'incident' in the tunnel during the half-time interval.

After an impeccably observed one minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Tsunami in Asia, the first game of 2005 involving Barry Fry's men got underway in driving rain. The hosts forced goalkeeper Tyler into the first save of the afternoon when Bell got in behind Newton with the full-back firing a powerful effort goal-wards that the Posh shot-stopper did well to parry.

At the other end, some good hold up play between the front two allowed Logan to get a shot on goal, but the shot was blocked by Butler and moments later a Legg shot struck Dinning after a quickly taken free-kick by Posh.

A mistake by Burton nearly allowed the Robins to take the lead on 21 minutes, but Brooker saw his shot excellently blocked by Arber who through himself in front of the goal-bound effort. Guy Branston, who joined on-loan for one month from Sheffield Wednesday during the week, was looking good at the heart of the defence, making some timely interceptions.

Posh created a decent opportunity on 29 minutes as a Platt flick-on found Logan but the former Ipswich Town front man saw his tame effort parried by Phillips as he tried to find the corner of the net. Bristol City had a good chance of their own minutes later as Heffernan raced clear, but Burton did well to get back and deflect the effort wide.

However, the Robins didn't take long to get their noses in front as on 31 minutes, BROOKER (pictured above) managed to beat Branston in the air and power the header past Tyler and into the back of the net, although there was a suspicion of a push on the centre back. Dinning then lashed a long-range shot wide of the target as the goal gave the hosts confidence.

It was 2-0 on 34 minutes as a neat pass into the feet of striker HEFFERNAN (pictured below) ended with the former Notts. County front man turning Burton and lobbing the ball cutely over Tyler and into the net as the outlook for Posh looked as bleak as the awful weather conditions in Bristol.

There was a substitution for both sides at the interval with Calum Willock replacing Platt in attack and for City, Butler was withdrawn with Fortune coming on to replace him. Moments after the re-start Dinning lashed a shot well wide as City made a good start to the second half.

Branston saw a volley from a Boucaud free-kick saved by Phillips as Posh responded well and on 56 minutes a good run and cross from Sonner picked out Willock in the box, but his powerful header was clawed away by Phillips. A great save by Tyler denied an excellent Bell free-kick on 64 minutes after Willock's needless foul.

A quickly taken free-kick by the Robins nearly caught Posh out on 69 minutes as Wilkshire let-fly from distance with the ball just clipping the top of the crossbar. Murray had a golden chance to make it three after running straight through the heart of the Posh defence, but Tyler made himself big and smothered the effort.

Logan then saw a volley saved by Phillips at the near post as Posh began to get on top in the encounter, but City were fairly content with the score-line and introduced Tommy Doherty and Leroy Lita as substitutes.

Sonner saw a cross-shot drift well wide of the target on 86 minutes before Burton saw a free-kick comfortably saved by Phillips. Arber and Branston did well at the other end to contain the obvious threat that Muray was causing in the dying moments and on 88 minutes, substitute Fortune saw a shot deflect inches past the post.

Bristol City: Phillips, Smith, Butler (sub Fortune 46min), Coles, Bell, Murray, Orr, Dinning (sub Doherty 76min), Wilkshire, Brooker (sub Lita 77min), Heffernan. Unused subs: Goodfellow, Cotterill.

Posh: Tyler, Legg (sub Clarke 63min), Burton, Farrell, Platt (sub Willock 46min), Newton, Arber, Boucaud, Logan (sub Semple 71min), Sonner, Branston. Unused subs: St. Ledger, Ireland.

Referee: F. Graham

Goals: Brooker 31min, Heffernan 34min.

Attendance: 10,873 (135 Posh).

Cautions: Platt 45min (tunnel incident 45min - unconfirmed) Willock 61min (dissent), Boucaud 76min (foul), Burton 76min (dissent).