Where there’s fight and determination, there’s hope

While there’s fight, spirit and determination, there’s always hope and Posh need to replicate this level of desire in some huge February fixtures.

Both Posh and QPR have more important Championship matters to attend to this season, but unquestionably Darren Ferguson’s side needed this FA Cup victory more than their visitors.

QPR were up for the cup, but ran into a Posh brick wall. Posh were also highly motivated as they needed a morale-boosting win to help their fight against the drop,

First goals of the season from Joe Ward and substitute Ricky-Jade Jones delivered the 2-0 win and there was much to admire about a passionate performance.

But it was also true Posh had the run of the ball against a side who apparently had possession for 72% of the game and won the shot count 16-3.

The ball dropped kindly for Posh in both penalty areas with a kind ricochet from

a Jeando Fuchs shot landing handily for Ward to open the scoring in the 25th minute with his team’s first shot of the game.

That impressive efficiency was highlighted again 18 minutes from time when Jones pounced on a perfect pass from Bali Mumba before instinctively firing into the corner of the net just seven minutes after entering the fray.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of QPR who were probably left wondering how on earth thay hadn’t at least scored.

Posh ‘keeper Steven Benda’s form was a big reason. He tipped aside an Ilias Chair 25 yarder at 0-0 and then did even better to keep out a Mo

ses Odubaje strike 60 seconds after Posh had opened the scoring.

Benda’s best moment arrived 30 seconds into the second-half when beating away a goalbound effort from Albert Adomah who had wandered free into the penalty area.

Chair struck the bar with a cracking 22 yard free-kick Benda might even have got a fingertip onto that shot - but otherwise three Posh centre-backs were excellent at defending their penalty area in the second-half.

The ball often bobbled around the Posh box from set-pieces in the first half without falling to a striker, an early sign this was going to be a rare good day.

Passion, and the run of the ball, saw Posh through.

Posh substitute Ricky-Jade Jones celebrates his goal against QPR.