First half goals from Tyrone Barnett and Grant McCann earned Posh a comfortable 2-0 win over Preston North End.
Preston North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd had a mixed day in between the sticks at London Road as his two errors gave Darren Ferguson's men the points, however he made a string of decent stops to prevent the hosts from adding to the score-line.Preston created the first opportunity of the game on four minutes as Kevin Davies was afforded time in the box, but his shot was deflected inches past the far post.
The deadlock was broken on seven minutes as an effort from Grant McCann was spilled by goalkeeper Rudd and Tyrone BARNETT was there to gobble up the chance and fire high into the net to give Darren Ferguson's men the lead.
Olejnik, who was named the foreverposh Player of the Month for September prior to kick-off, denied Paul Huntington on the 10-minute mark after a swirling corner from the right.
A good run from Taylor saw him burst towards the penalty area, but he fired wide of the target with his weaker left-foot. Goalkeeper Rudd was then forced into action on 20 minutes to tip over a fierce Taylor free-kick after Huntington had been booked for hacking down Assombalonga on the edge of the box.
On 28 minutes, Posh made it 2-0 and it was an absolute howler from Declan Rudd, who let a swerving effort from MCCANN go through his fingers and into the back of the net. Credit to McCann for the effort and also to Alcock, who picked out the experienced midfielder in space.
Taylor was denied by Rudd before the goalkeeper did well to get back and prevent a looping header from Barnett from finding the back of the net. Moments later, Taylor was denied a goal by a superb one-handed stop by Rudd.
Posh went from back to front moments later in an instant as a good throw out from Olejnik found Swanson, he galloped clear down the right, before squeezing a cross into the path of Taylor who was denied by the legs of the overworked Rudd.
Assombalonga glanced a header wide of the target on 40 minutes as Posh continued to threaten.
Assombalonga had the ball in the back of the net on 57 minutes, but he was flagged offside. Substitute Welsh curled a free-kick inches over the crossbar on 62 minutes as Bostwick was penalised for a foul on Davies.
On 71 minutes, the Lilywhites came close to reducing the arrears as Bailey Wright crashed a volley against the underside of the crossbar before Davies hooked the rebound over the bar under pressure from Alcock.
Substitute Garner struck the top of the bar with a looping header before Zakuani cleared well from Huntington's looping header after Olejnik had miss-read the flight of the corner kick.
Danny Kearns replaced Taylor on 78 minutes as Ferguson made his first switch. Bostwick and Swanson were denied in quick succession by Rudd, who has recovered from a nightmare first half hour.
Olejnik denied Garner at the other end as Preston pressed with the game entering the final 10 minutes. A speculative effort from Welsh was well held by Olejnik as Payne sustained an injury, which required treatment and Ntlhe replaced him.
Final Score: Posh 2-0 Preston North End
Posh: Olejnik, Alcock, Zakuani, Bostwick, Swanson, Payne (sub Ntlhe 86min), Assombalonga, McCann, Taylor (sub Kearns 78min), Rowe, Barnett. Unused subs: Day, Brisley, Mendez-Laing, Gordon, Conlon.
Preston: Rudd, Keane, Laird, Huntington, Clarke, Wright, Humphrey, Davies, Beavon (sub Garner 71min), Byrom (sub Wroe 46min), Hume (sub Welsh 46min). Unused subs: Stuckmann, Holmes, Buchanan, Mousinho.
Attendance: 7,020 (655 Preston fans)