The team coach broke down within two miles of the London Road ground, but the Chester Supporters Club bus fortunately passed and picked up the players and back room staff to salvage the situation.

And experienced central midfielder Tony Dinning was dismissed for a second bookable offence two minutes from time following an altercation with home midfielder Charlie Lee.

But there was absolutely no compensation for Chester's workmanlike defensive display against promotion-chasing Posh who snatched a 71st minute winning goal after being frustrated by City's solid backline.

Peterborough dictated for long spells against Blues' 4-5-1 formation which underlined City's hopes of leaving with at least a share of the spoils.

Blues boss, Simon Davies, made two changes to the Chester side that had beaten high-flying Darlington 2-1 at the weekend.

Injured centre half Paul Butler was replaced by youngster Shaun Kelly, and striker Chris Holroyd, who had picked up a leg injury against Darlington, was replaced by Glenn Rule.

Posh created the first meaningful scoring chance after just two minutes, but Aaron McLean failed to steer his 10 yard shot on target after a neat build up between Jamie Day and George Boyd down the right flank.

Murphy responded for City in his role as a lone striker, but his goalbound effort in the fifth minute was blocked and cleared.

McLean, looking determined to continue his goalscoring spree so far this term, raced clear of City's offside trap in the 12th minute, but his angled attempt was blocked and cleared.

Left back Laurence Wilson, encouraged to push forward and support his five-man midfield, hoisted a dangerous cross into the Posh area in the 16th minute which missed the head of Rule by a whisker.

Charlie Lee hit back for the home club in the 22nd minute, but his ambitious 25 yard shot was easily gathered by City keeper John Danby.
Dinning was cautioned for a cynical trip on the halfway line to deny Day a chance of creating an opening for Posh, a decision he would rue later in the game.

Peterborough looked strong towards the concluding stages of the first half, with Boyd seeing his 18 yard shot bobble wide of the left post in the 27th minute, full debutant Scott Rendell found the sidenetting from Dean Keates' long throw, McLean' s audacious overhead kick being claimed by Danby, and Lee forcing Danby into another stop four minutes before the break.

Peterborough showed all the signs of continuing to turn the screw immediately after the restart.

McLean forced Danby to turn a goalbound effort round his post in the 50th minute, and centre back Craig Morgan steered a scoring chance wide from another pinpoint Keates corner.

Rendell held his head in his hands in the 58th minute after he had completely miscued in front of goal following a fine cross from Boyd.

And McLean headed a chance over the bar a minute later from a Keates corner, before Rendell was guilty of missing another gilt-edged chance when he glanced a header from Chris Whelpdale's cross wide of the mark.

Richie Partridge punctuated the Posh raids, much to the relief of City's overworked defence.

The winger weaved his way inside from the left flank and steered a menacing shot towards goal, but home keeper Joe Lewis fisted the ball clear.

But Posh looked far more threatening whenever they charged forward in numbers and it only seemed a matter of time before City's defensive line would be breached.

Centre half Paul Linwood repelled a goalbound effort from Whelpdale in the 65th minute, and Danby turned another McLean shot round his post seconds later.

Rendell saw his header from Whelpdale's cross crash back off the City bar before Keates, probably the smallest player on the pitch, succeeded in heading home a left wing cross from Boyd.

On the balance of play Posh had deserved the breakthrough, but the goal seemed harsh on City's hardworking defence who had battled long and hard to hold out for the reward of a cleansheet.

McLean continued to menace the Blues with his pace and trickery, but his 78th minute shot was steered wide of the right post from Boyd's left wing centre.

Davies opted to replace Rule for Kevin Sandwith and Paul Rutherford for Paul McManus, and switch to a 4-4-2 formation for the concluding stages.

Murphy nearly profited when he struck an 18 yard shot that fizzed inches wide of the post in the 82nd minute, and Partridge saw his volley bounce just wide seconds later.

But Chester were reduced to 10 men when Dinning picked up his second bookable offence two minutes from time.

Whelpdale was a fraction away from doubling his team's advantage when he saw his low strike crash off the base of the right post.

And Linwood, who had pushed himself into attack during stoppage time, was inches away from snatching an equaliser from a 20-yard shot following a neat build up involving substitute Andy Mitchell and Murphy.