Peterborough United were down and out at 4-0 and were just intent to make sure they avoided a crushing defeat, but Mark Cooper's men were not willing to lay down and accept defeat and staged one of the best comebacks ever seen to draw 4-4 against Cardiff City.

Cardiff City started full of confidence despite the defeat to Plymouth Argyle at the weekend and were close to the breakthrough inside the first five minutes as leading goal-scorer Peter Whittingham struck the inside of the post with a side-footed effort from six-yards.

The visitors did open the scoring on six minutes as Whittingham's cross was converted from 10-yards by Welsh international Joe LEDLEY who swept the ball past Lewis and into the back of the net.

On nine minutes, Charlie Lee, restored to the Posh midfield, sent a fierce drive past the post from 25-yards after Cardiff struggled to deal with a Shaun Batt cross. Goalkeeper Dave Marshall flapped at the first Geohaghon long throw on 12 minutes, but there was no-one there in a white shirt to convert the loose ball.

A superb run from George Boyd saw him beat two players, but his cross failed to pick out the onrushing Shaun Batt at the back post. However, the visitors doubled the advantage on 23 minutes as a simple corner from Whittingham picked out LEDLEY once again at the back post and his downward header nestled into the corner of the net.

Boyd rolled a low shot inches past the post on the half hour mark after a good lay-off from Craig Mackail-Smith as Posh tried to get back into proceedings before the interval.

The game was made safe for the Bluebirds on 32 minutes as BOTHROYD skipped past two awful challenges and arrowed a shot into the far corner past Lewis and people began to leave the stadium.

If there was disgust at the third goal, then the fourth goal left the crowd stunned. Griffiths was penalised for a foul on Bothroyd and WHITTINGHAM stepped up and curled a superb free-kick over the wall and into the net via the inside of the post.

Mackail-Smith diverted a Lee shot wide of the target as a clearly shell-shocked Posh side tried to at least show some heart in their performance. Coutts tested Marshall with a side-footed volley from 20-yards on 41 minutes.

Posh continued to play some good football despite the score-line, a good run from Whelpdale saw him ghost past two defenders and lay the ball to Boyd, whose low cross-shot was well cleared at the back post by Adam Matthews.

Half-time: Posh 0-4 Cardiff City

Morgan was penalised for a foul after a breakdown in communication with Geohaghon but McCormack's free-kick found the wall. Posh made a double substitution at the break with Mclean and Geohaghon withdrawn to be replaced by Josh Simpson and Lee Frecklington.

The crowd were making plenty of noise at the start of the second half in support of the team despite the score-line and Posh were looking far more determined in the tackle in the early moments of the second period.

They were rewarded on 52 minutes and it was a first goal in the Football League for Josh SIMPSON who controlled a Boyd pass and slipped the ball past Marshall from close-range. Lewis denied a low Burke effort moments later before Batt flashed a shot wide of the target after a good cross-field pass from Boyd.

Coutts curled a free-kick into the wall on 56 minutes as Posh continued to show some fight. Lewis sustained a kick under pressure from McCormack on 62 minutes and after treatment from physiotherapist he was taken from the field. James McKeown replaced him between the sticks.

Frecklington fired over the crossbar from long-range on 65 minutes and the injury to Lewis certainly didn't help with the momentum that Posh had built up in the opening exchanges of the second period.

The home side were making a real fight of things though and reduced the arrears to just two goals as a wonderful run and cross from Boyd saw him beat the full-back and deliver a pinpoint cross from LEE who headed past Marshall.

Cardiff responded by bringing on Michael Chopra for McCormack in attack as they tried to get a fifth goal to finally put this game to bed, even though at 4-0 I said it was. Charlie Lee saw a fierce drive well held by goalkeeper Marshall before Bothroyd went down seeking treatment.

Batt was cautioned on 78 minutes for a foul on Hudson as Cardiff took the opportunity to take their time over free-kicks and goal-kicks. A deflected Simpson effort was well gathered by Marshall on 82 minutes as Posh tried to set up a grandstand finish.

Morgan guided a header wide of the target on 86 minutes from a deep Coutts corner kick as Mark Cooper's men kept pressurising the visitors back-line. Posh set up that grandstand finish on 89 minutes and it was a stunning strike from BOYD who wriggled his way past two tackles and fired an unbelievable left-foot shot into the top corner.

Five minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official and anyone who decided to leave at 4-0 will be wondering why they made that decision. In the 93rd minute, Posh found an unlikely fourth goal and it came from a Whelpdale long throw that was flicked on by McKeown, and as the ball rebounded kindly, SIMPSON smashed the ball past Marshall to make it 4-4.

Final Score: Posh 4-4 Cardiff City

Posh: Lewis (sub McKeown 63min), Griffiths, Geohaghon (sub Simpson 46min), Morgan, Whelpdale, Lee, Coutts, Batt, Boyd, Mclean (sub Frecklington 46min), Mackail-Smith. Unused subs: Rowe, Diagouraga, Green, Koranteng.

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton (sub Quinn 46min), Rae, Hudson, Whittingham, Bothroyd (sub Etuhu 77min), Burke, Gerrard, Ledley, Matthews, McCormack (sub Chopra 71min). Unused subs: Gyepes, Taiwo, Enckelman, Wildig.

Attendance: 9,796 (1,877 Cardiff fans)