Aaron Mclean headed Peterborough United ahead against Nottingham Forest but the visitors scored twice in a matter of minutes to claim three points and maintain their unbeaten record on the road this season.

Craig Mackail-Smith had the first opportunity of the game on a windy afternoon at London Road after a good flick on from Chris Whelpdale, but the striker blazed over the bar from around 20-yards.

The blustery conditions were certainly playing a major part with Posh appearing to have the wind at their backs as they kicked towards the large contigent of away supporters.

Aaron Mclean shot wide of the target on 13 minutes after a good interception from Craig Morgan as Darren Ferguson's men made the early running.

Paul Coutts received treatment on 21 minutes after a heavy challenge with Wes Morgan and the Scottish under 21 international was certainly feeling the full effects of the knock. Joe Lewis then received treatment after diving at the feet of Nathan Tyson. After treatment, Lewis was forced off the field with concussion.

On 29 minutes, David McGoldrick fired over from close-range after an excellent run and cross by Tyson down the left hand side of Forest's attack.

Lee Frecklington replaced a clearly injured Coutts on the half hour, who sustained a bruise to the top of his foot and with only a third of the game over,Posh had been forced into two substitutions.

A superb cross from left-back Williams on 36 minutes picked out Mackail-Smith at the back post, but he headed wide of the target from close-range under pressure from Luke Chambers.

Frecklington crashed the stanchion with a rasping drive on 25 minutes after good hold-up play from Mackail-Smith in difficult circumstances.

Williams made a wonderful last ditch tackle to deny McGoldrick at the back post before the two were embroiled in a tussle that referee Jonathan Moss had to sort out with a ticking off. Williams and Tyson were booked deep in stoppage time after an altercation as tensions threatened to spill over.

Half time: Peterborough United 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Toumani Diagouraga tested goalkeeper Lee Camp with a skidding effort moments after the re-start, which the Forest shot-stopper struggled to deal with.

On 49 minutes, a superb tackle from the powerful Morgan prevented Mackail-Smith from breaking the deadlock and from the resulting corner kick, MCLEAN powered home an unstoppable header from an excellent Williams delivery.

Moments later, the visitors were back on level terms as Radoslaw MAJEWSKI floated a free-kick over substitute goalkeeper James McKeown and into the back of the net via the inside of the post. The lead lasted less than two minutes.

Forest were soon in front as a ball in from the left by Chris Cohen bounced off Tyson and into the path of Paul ANDERSON who had the simple task of rolling the ball past a stranded McKeown.

Morgan then cleared off the line from a looping Chambers header as Billy Davies' men pressed for a third goal against a shell-shocked Posh defence.

On 66 minutes, Boyd squandered a glorious opportunity to level the scores after the ball rolled invitingly into his path following a succession of rebounds, but the winger blazed his left-foot shot into the side-netting.

Frecklington tested Camp from distance on 72 minutes with a low effort as Posh tried to get back into the game but moments later Posh were giving away a needless corner after a huge clearance from the goalkeeper was fumbled by McKeown.

The pace of Batt had the Forest defence scared on 73 minutes and then Camp fumbled the cross from the substitute, but the resulting corner was poor from Williams. Blackstock fired wide at the other end after a mistake by Zakuani.

McKeown flapped at a corner on 78 minutes into the path of substitute McCleary who cracked an overhead kick against the frame of the goal.

Posh were piling on the pressure at the other end as the game entered the final 10 minutes with Batt particularly dangerous. Mackail-Smith was inches away from connecting to a Mclean through ball on 87 minutes but goalkeeper Camp smothered well.

Final Score: Peterborough United 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Posh: Lewis (sub McKeown 27min), Martin, Williams, Morgan, Zakuani, Coutts (sub Frecklington 30min), Diagouraga, Boyd, Whelpdale (sub Batt 69min), Mclean, Mackail-Smith. Unused subs: Keates, Rowe, Pearce, Rose.

Forest: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Anderson (sub McCleary 68min), Tyson, Cohen, Gunter, McGoldrick (sub Earnshaw 68min), McKenna, Blackstock, Majewski (sub Moussi 77min). Unused subs: Wilson, McGugan, Adebola, Smith.

Attendance: 12,711