Clough gets the better of Ferguson as Mansfield ease past sorry Peterborough

A first-half assault saw Mansfield make it back-to-back League One wins for the first time since October as they hammered Peterborough 3-0 to secure a first away victory at the club since 1979.

The pressure is mounting on Posh boss Darren Ferguson, whose side have lost five of their last six league outings since crushing local rivals Cambridge.

Nigel Clough’s side were two goals to the good inside the first 10 minutes.

Posh stopper Nicholas Bilokapic had already made a good save to tip Aaron Lewis’ chance past the post before the visitors took the lead in the sixth minute.

Baily Cargill opened the scoring as he thundered home a header from Keanu Bacchus’ corner.

And it was two in the ninth minute when Will Evans pounced on some indecision at the back to stab home his seventh goal of the season.

Louis Reed forced Bilokapic into a good stop to keep the deficit at just the two.

But another Bacchus corner led to the third as Evans nodded home his second of the afternoon at the near post on the half-hour mark.

Christy Pym had a largely-uneventful afternoon, with a long-distance stop from Malik Mothersille the hosts’ best chance.

To rub salt into Peterborough’s wounds, last man George Nevett was sent off for chopping down Ryan Oates late on.