Strikers propel Posh towards Championship

Peterborough Utd 2 Leicester City

Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean were playing non-League football two seasons ago, but later this year they could be leading Peterborough's attack in the Championship. The two strikers, with 92 goals between them in the last two seasons, typify the spirit of a team heading for their second successive promotion.

Darren Ferguson, the manager, is taking nothing for granted but believes his team of players plucked from the semi-professional game, reserve teams and lower reaches of the Football League could handle another step up in class.

"The majority of that team could definitely cope with the Championship," he said after Saturday's resounding victory over the League One leaders at London Road, Peterborough's sixth win in a row. "You get a lot of good players out of non-League football. You have people who want to prove a point."

Mackail-Smith's excellent control and run set up Chris Whelpdale for Posh's second goal, while the first was scored by a player from the other end of the football spectrum. Charlie Lee, who failed to make the grade at Tottenham, ventured forward from the back to curl a lovely shot past Tony Warner.

Leicester remain four points clear with only six matches remaining. "It's where you are in May that counts," said Nigel Pearson, the manager.

Goals: Lee (44) 1-0; Whelpdale (79) 2-0.

Peterborough United (4-4-2): Lewis; Martin, Lee, Zakuani, Williams; Whelpdale, Coutts, Keates, Boyd; Mclean, Mackail-Smith (Batt, 90). Substitutes not used: McKeown (gk), Blackett, Westwood, Torres.

Leicester City (4-4-2): Warner; Gilbert, Hobbs, Kisnorbo, Mattock; Gradel, Oakley, Berner (Hayles, 61), Dyer (Adams 71); Dickov, Fryatt. Substitutes not used: Stockdale (gk), Morrison, Brown.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Booked: Peterborough: Lee. Leicester: Berner, Warner, Gradel, Hayles.

Man of the match: Lee.

Attendance: 14,110.