By JON WEST at the Weston Homes Stadium

SIRIKI DEMBELE bagged his second winner in four days to propel Peterborough away from the drop zone.

The highly rated striker added to Harrison Burrows’ equaliser to ensure an opener from Ilias Chair (above), direct from a QPR corner, counted for nothing.

Dembele netted the clincher in midweek at Hull and struck in stoppage-time here.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “That’s what Dembs is about.

“He’s always a threat and is a good finisher. We have seen two good finishes this week. He’s got pace and is a strong little bugger. I really like him.

“Wednesday was big for the players – they needed that win. You could feel the relief and that brought on this performance.”

Posh had the ball in the net in the third minute, but Sammie Szmodics was offside as he tapped in.

Mark Warburton’s visitors should have gone ahead in the 39th minute.

Rob Edwards gave the ball away, trying to play out from the back, and Dai Cornell spilled Chair’s long-ranger. The home keeper recovered to make a fine block of Lyndon Dykes’ follow-up – and Charlie Austin curled wide of an empty goal from six yards.

Posh conceded the sort of goal that gets you relegated, five minutes into the second half. Chair swung in a corner that was missed by everyone, including Cornell.

Warburton revealed that had been planned. He said: “Ilias scored twice in training doing that. We felt there was a weakness there.

“We got the reward, but, having done that, we had to see the game out better.”

To their credit, it took Posh just six minutes to level through local lad Burrows.

Jack Taylor’s flick set up Szmodics for a shot that was deflected to the teenager to drill past keeper Seny Dieng.

The final say was with Dembele, who coolly slotted home a 91st-minute winner after Oliver Norburn put him through.

PETERBOROUGH: Cornell 6, Thompson 7, Edwards 6, Beevers 6, Ward 6 (Kanu 54, 6), Grant 6 (Coventry 67, 5), Norburn 6, Taylor 7 (Butler 88), Burrows 7, Szmodics 7, Dembele 7. Subs not used: Blackmore, Kent, Knight, Tomlinson. QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Dieng 7, Dickie 6, Dunne 6, Barbet 7, Adomah 6, Ball 6 (Amos 59, 5), Johansen 6, Mccallum 6 (Willock 82), Chair 7, Dykes 6, Austin 5 (Gray 67, 5). Subs not used: Archer, Kakay, De Wijs, Dozzell. MAN OF THE MATCH: Harrison Burrows. Posh teenager popped up with his third goal of the season when it mattered. REFEREE: Jarred Gillett 6