Bristol City assistant Curtis Fleming salutes Chris Martin after beating Posh

Peterborough United v Bristol City – Sky Bet Championship – London Road
(Image credit: Joe Giddens)

Curtis Fleming saluted hard-working hero Chris Martin after Bristol City snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory at Peterborough.

The City frontman fired his fourth goal of the Sky Bet Championship season with five minutes of a breathless battle to go.

That Martin strike clinched a fourth away win for City and provided cheer for manager Nigel Pearson, who is suffering from Covid-19.

It also ensured they stole the headlines from one of their former flops as Sammie Szmodics, who endured an unhappy spell in City colours after a big-money move from Colchester, bagged a brilliant brace for beaten Posh.

Bristol City assistant Fleming said: “It was a huge goal from Chris. We are a team that is built on hard work and that starts from the front.

“People have to realise what Chris gives the team. He gives us a foundation in games because of the way he holds the ball up so well and he showed the quality he has.

“We’ll be expecting plenty more from him. His job is not done as we have more than a few games left.

“We needed to bounce back from the defeat at Millwall in midweek, but we didn’t get too low after that defeat and we won’t get too high after this win.

“Peterborough were very good and asked us a lot of question, but we stuck to our beliefs and got success in the end.

“There’s no doubt the result will have cheered Nigel up. He’s had a couple of tough days but like us all he’ll feel a little bit better with three points.”

Szmodics broke the deadlock with a 25-yard cracker midway through the first half before City turned the contest.

Posh defender Nathan Thompson headed a Matty James corner into his own net for a 34th-minute leveller under pressure from Rob Atkinson before George Tanner grabbed his first City goal five minutes later.

Szmodics quickly restored parity with a terrific header from Dan Butler’s cross two minutes before the break and the sides remained level until Martin struck in the 85th minute.

The winner arrived seconds after Posh saw a penalty appeal ignored by referee David Coote as Harrison Burrows tumbled in the box.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “It’s a sore one to lose that game, but we’re just not getting the breaks.

“The penalty incident is a big turning point. Harrison goes to shoot and one of their players puts both hands on him.

“I’ve seen it back and it should be a penalty kick, but it wasn’t given and they went up the pitch and scored the winner.

“It changes the game as we had Sammie on a hat-trick who would probably have scored, but the referee was very adamant it wasn’t a penalty.

“Our attacking intent was good but the trade-off was that we needed to be better defensively as we conceded poor goals.”

Read more
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Jay Stansfield of Birmingham City celebrates his first goal during the Sky Bet League One match between Birmingham City FC and Wrexham AFC at St Andrewís at Knighthead Park on September 16, 2024 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
‘He’s been an absolute monster of a buy’: the record-breaking striker firing dominant Birmingham City back to the Championship
Daniel Farke
Daniel Farke spells out the details required for Leeds United to win Premier League promotion
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Liam Palmer of Sheffield Wednesday celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg match between Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough United at Hillsborough on May 18, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
'All week leading up to the second leg, I had the lads practise penalties in case of a shootout. They thought I was mad. When we won 5-1 and it went to penalties, I just smiled' How Sheffield Wednesday overturned 4-0 play-off defeat under Darren Moore
Chelsea's English midfielder #20 Cole Palmer (R) celebrates after his deflected shot makes it 2-1 during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London on February 3, 2025
Stamford Bridge’s volume can help Chelsea secure the Champions League football they crave and need
Chelsea's English defender #06 Levi Colwill (C) celebrates after scoring his team third goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on February 25, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
How Chelsea’s unshakable team spirit is shining through despite off-field chaos
 Vitor Pereira, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, celebrates following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Aston Villa FC at Molineux on February 01, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England
Vitor Pereira believes he’s found a key commodity inside Wolverhampton Wanderers that can keep them in the Premier League
Latest in
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi of Spain thanks the fans during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip on March 20, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Arsenal report: Martin Zubimendi 'very close' to shock Real Madrid move
Latest in News
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi of Spain thanks the fans during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip on March 20, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Arsenal report: Martin Zubimendi 'very close' to shock Real Madrid move
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim reacts at full-time of the Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford on 9 March, 2025
Manchester United make exciting teenager 'top priority' this summer: report