Chesterfield FC boss Danny Wilson bemoans officiating for Peterborough United winner

A second half goal from Tom Nichols sealed it for the visitors but the Spireites felt it came as a result of an infringement on goalkeeper Tommy Lee.

Wilson said: “To lose the goal in the manner we did was disappointing. For the first 45 minutes the referee has blown his whistle when anyone got around the goalkeeper. Fouls, fouls, fouls.

“First time it happens in the second half to us he let’s it go. It’s a real conundrum from my point of view why he let the goal stand. There’s a clear obstruction on the goalkeeper. I find that really, really frustrating.”

Peterborough were reduced to nine men after referee David Coote had given Michael Smith and Ricardo Almeida-Santos their marching orders.

Wilson, who thought his side more than matched Posh, said both decisions were correct: “The game fell in our favour as terms as possession as the sendings off came.

“I thought they were well deserved, I don’t think there was anything wrong with the sendings off. I don’t think the referee had much choice really.”

He added: “They (Posh) defended for their lives, they were a bit lucky at times and we’ve had great situations we’ve frittered away with loose balls going into the box or loose passes and unfortunately we’ve not been able to force that goal.

“I think we deserved it but it’s one of those things. The performance has been good again but we’ve come away with nothing.”

Wilson also was far from impressed with the apparent time-wasting from Peterborough.

“When the ball is out of play it’s up to the officials to get it back in to play,” he said. “When it’s in play it’s our job to get the ball.

“If he doesn’t rush the goalkeeper he will continue to waste time until he does go in the book but he never did. That was the game plan.

“The referee has to take control of it but he didn’t take control of it today. He has to understand why tactics like that are used.”