Barnsley came from behind to claim all three points at London Road as Peterborough United suffered a fourth home defeat in the Coca-Cola Championship to slip into the relegation zone. After playing with ten-men for over an hour at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, Darren Ferguson's men looked lacking in ideas, particularly in the second half going forward and Barnsley shot-stopper Luke Steele was rarely called into action.

Aaron Mclean had the first effort of the game, heading a Tommy Rowe cross wide of the target from seven-yards out. Goalkeeper Ben Amos settled any early nerves with a fine punch from a difficult Bogdanovic centre before pouncing on the loose ball as Anderson De Silva fired goal-wards.

At the other end, former Posh goalkeeper Luke Steele showed excellent handling to deny Shaun Batt's low shot and prevent Mclean from pouncing. The pace of Batt was causing all sorts of problems and a long through ball from Diagouraga had the Tykes struggling, but the referee spotted an infringement by Mclean in the build-up.

Posh were dealt a blow on 22 minutes after winger Chris Whelpdale fell awkwardly after delivering a cross into the box by the touch-line, but after treatment from physiotherapist Keith Oakes, the former Billericay man was back in the fray, albeit gingerly.

A superb left-foot cross from Boyd managed to elude both Batt and Mclean in the six-yard box a minute later and from the resulting corner kick, Zakuani was hauled down by Moore at the back post for a penalty kick. BOYD stepped up and confidently sent goalkeeper Steele the wrong way from the spot for his 10th goal of the campaign.

Within 60 seconds, Barnsley drew themselves level as a cross from Macken picked out BOGDANOVIC who nodded the ball past Amos from close-range. Whelpdale was forced out of the action on 38 minutes with Rose replacing him.

However, whether it is a concentration issue or just bad luck, but less than 60 seconds after the substitution, the Tykes were in front as De Silva threaded the ball into the path of MACKEN who fired an unstoppable shot past Amos.

A corner from Boyd was met by Zakuani two minutes before the interval, but he couldn't keep his header down.

Half-time: Posh1-2 Barnsley

Adam Hammill curled a shot over the bar two minutes after the re-start after Posh gave the ball away in midfield. Frecklington curled a 25-yard shot inches over the upright moments later after an intelligent pass from substitute Danny Rose.

Batt curled an ambitious shot wide of the target on 54 minutes after a poor Stephen Foster header rolled kindly into his path on the edge of the penalty area.

On 57 minutes, Posh were piling on the presure and Ryan Shotton had to be well-placed to clear a downward Morgan header off the line before Mclean saw a shot blocked by Foster. Batt snatched at the rebound before Barnsley hooked the ball to safety.

Amos denied Foster from close-range on the hour mark before Zakuani poked the loose ball away from danger as the Tykes bounced back from that intense pressure by coming close to a third.

Gabriel Zakuani, who missed the mid-week defeat at Blackburn with a sore hamstring, was replaced by Ryan Bennett on 63 minutes with the defender making his Posh debut.

A deflected Rose shot went wide of the near post on 71 minutes before a Morgan header was well-cleared by the powerful Moore as Posh pressed to get back into the game.  

A forceful run from Batt saw him burst into the area, but his low shot was deflected into the side-netting. Frecklington blasted a free-kick horribly over the crossbar on 80 minutes after Foster was cautioned for hauling down Mclean.

Rose sent a speculative effort wide of the target after cutting inside from the left on 83 minutes, but chances in front of goal were proving very infrequent for a Posh side lacking in creativity against a resolute Barnsley side. Bennett headed a Boyd corner kick over the crossbar moments later.

Macken had a goal rightly ruled out for offside in stoppage time after good work from Anderson De Silva before the refere brought a half to proceedings.

Final Score: Posh1-2 Barnsley

Posh: Amos, Morgan, Zakuani (sub Bennett 64min), Lee, Rowe, Frecklington, Boyd, Whelpdale (sub Rose 38min), Diagouraga, Batt, Mclean. Unused subs: Martin, Keates, McKeown, Pearce, Griffiths.

Barnsley: Steele, Moore, Colace, Foster, De Silva, Bogdanovic (sub Hume 63min), Macken, Hammill (sub J. Gray 68min), Dickinson, Shotton, Doyle (sub Butterfield  87min). Unused subs: Hassell, Campbell-Ryce, Preece, A. Gray.

Attendance: 8,556 (1,180 Barnsley fans)