Peterborough 0-1 Nottingham Forest, Saturday 6th October

The game was always going to be a close encounter with both sides struggling to pinpoint some early form so far this season and the first period brought chances for each team.

The two opposite goalkeepers each doing well to keep their respective sides in the game before Reid scored the goal which sealed the points – a classy strike from the edge of the box following a determined run.

Highly-rated Reds’ midfielder Lewis McGugan really came out of the blocks from the first whistle at London Road and was shooting at goal in the opening minute. However his effort went high and wide.

Moments later however, McGugan came even closer to scoring when striker Simon Cox teed up the marksman who curled an effort just inches wide 30-yards from goal.

McGugan was on a mission and was soon denied again – this time by Posh keeper Bobby Olejnik who collected the midfielder’s effort well after he had dispossessed Michael Bostwick to drive a shot in at goal.

The home side did muster up some chances of their own too - former Forest man George Boyd was looking to cause his former teammates problems with a dangerous corner - and it nearly did if only Nathaniel Knight-Percival had put his effort on target.

And at the other end McGugan found space down the right to swing in a ball for Billy Sharp – the Southampton loanee had the keeper beaten but headed his effort just wide of the post.

Olejnik was in great form for the Posh and the Austrian was alert again moments later to deny Cox’s right footed strike after Reid had found the frontman with a clever through ball down the left.

After the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second period Forest looked to continue to pressure Darren Ferguson’s men.

However, it was Peterborough who looked more dangerous early in the second half as Forest shot-stopper Lee Camp was called upon to make a fine save. Former Stevenage midfielder Bostwick forcing the Northern Ireland number one into a great save after a charge down the middle.

And moments later Bostwick popped up once again from the resulting corner to head powerfully towards goal only to see Camp produce another fine save to parry away the ball.

However, it was Forest who broke the stalemate when Reid found a moment of inspiration out of nothing. The veteran midfielder picked up the ball down the left at the half-way mark before surging towards the edge of the box and delivering a bullet of a shot straight into the top corner, giving Olejnik no chance.

The hosts were not prepared to lie down and quiver just yet however, and they were nearly straight back in the game when Posh frontman Tyrone Barnett struck a near-post effort towards goal that Camp reacted well to stop.

Recent Reds’ loan signing Jermaine Jenas came on as a substitute and immediately had the ball in the net for what looked like Forest’s second of the game – however, the goal was ruled out as the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play during the build-up pass from Sharp.

And in the final stages of the game it was a tale of two fantastic goalkeepers – Camp maintaining his clean sheet with a save from Danny Swanson’s effort. And at the other end Olejnik preventing the Reds from increasing their lead with a superb double stop from a Jenas shot and subsequent Cox header.

Peterborough pressured the Forest goal in added time but the Reds managed to hold on to what was a crucial victory, keeping them on course to challenge the Championship top six.

The Reds now sit 12th in the Championship table with 14 points. After the international break they face league leaders Cardiff at the City Ground on Saturday 20th October. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Peterborough: Olejnik, Alcock, Brisley, Bostwick, Barnett, Boyd, Sinclair (Berahino, 63), Rowe (Tomlin, 68), Ferdinand, Little (Swanson, 63), Knight-Percival

Nottingham Forest: Camp, Halford, Ayala (Moloney, 45), Collins, Harding, Gillett, Cohen, McGugan (Jenas, 61), Reid, Cox (Majewski, 82), Sharp.

Man of the match: Andy Reid

Referee: Mark Haywood

Attendance: 10,469 (3,262 away)