Chesterfield 0 - 1 Peterborough United: Tom Nichols marks debut with winner for nine-man Peterborough at Chesterfield

Peterborough lost two players but won 1-0 at the Proact Stadium to boost their play-off chances and leave Chesterfield in relegation trouble.

Debutant Tom Nichols scored early in the second half, but Posh had Michael Smith and Ricardo Almeida Santos sent off in a game dominated by wind and rain.

Peterborough had the first chance in the 20th minute when Lee Angol played in Shaquile Coulthirst, but his low shot struck the legs of Tommy Lee and five minutes later Lee Novak was denied by Ben Alnwick.

The visitors went close in the 37th minute when Erhun Oztumer's 20-yard shot was tipped against the bar by Lee, who was a victim of the conditions when Peterborough scored in the 55th minute.

Oztumer's corner held up in the wind and Lee could only palm the ball behind him for Nichols to stab it into the roof of the net.

It was not to be a straightforward win, though, as three minutes later Peterborough had right-back Smith sent off for a second yellow card after tripping Jay O'Shea.

Posh were down to nine in the 78th minute when Almeida Santos was shown a second yellow, but defended superbly to hang on through seven minutes of stoppage time.