Peterborough United 1-2 Oxford United
- Published
Oxford closed to within six points of a Sky Bet League One play-off place with victory at Peterborough - and all but ended the hosts' top-six hopes in the process.
Michael Appleton's men hit the front on 23 minutes at the ABAX Stadium when Phil Edwards headed in a Rob Hall corner.
And they doubled their advantage when Conor McAleny tucked away a slick Chris Maguire pass with 19 minutes to go.
The goalscorer was fortunate to still be on the pitch after escaping with a yellow card from referee Mark Heywood when throwing Jack Baldwin to the floor in first-half stoppage time.
It was a success which featured a series of fine saves from Oxford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, whose best contribution was keeping out an early Leo Da Silva Lopes effort.
Eastwood also denied Chris Forrester and Craig Mackail-Smith early in the second period as Posh chased a leveller.
Even when he was beaten, Andrew Hughes headed against the crossbar before Posh saw Da Silva Lopes dismissed late on for collecting a second caution.
They did net in stoppage time as Mackail-Smith hit his 100th goal for the club, but it was not enough.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.