CHERRIES moved back into the Championship’s top two, despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by struggling Peterborough United.

The league’s bottom side took a shock lead into half-time at Vitality Stadium, courtesy of Jack Marriott’s crisp finish.

Cherries responded early in the second half through Ryan Christie, but could not force a winner as the spoils were shared between these two sides for the second time this season.

Scott Parker made three changes to the XI which started Saturday’s defeat at Preston. Adam Smith missed out through suspension, while Jaidon Anthony and Jamal Lowe dropped to the bench. In came Jack Stacey, Ryan Christie and former Peterborough man Siriki Dembele.

Ethan Laird was absent from Cherries’ squad, with Gary Cahill returning to the matchday 18.

Peterborough, seeking a first league win of 2022, made six changes from their 3-0 loss at Huddersfield Town last time out.

The hosts made a lively start against their out-of-form opponents. Christie curled a shot wide, before Dominic Solanke also dragged one off target. Between those two efforts, Peterborough boss Grant McCann was far from impressed on the touchline at no penalty being awarded when Jonson Clarke-Harris went over in the box, after a nudge from Stacey.

The shots kept coming from Cherries, but goalkeeper David Cornell remained unworked. Philip Billing headed wide from a Lewis Cook cross, while Nat Phillips also volleyed over having found space to connect with a Christie corner.

The visitors were not completely without threat, as Jeando Fuchs fired into the side netting, but Cherries were looking the more likely scorers.

Their clearest opening came when Christie’s clipped cross was knocked down by Solanke for Billing just inside the box, but the Dane fired over left-footed.

The opening goal arrived out of the blue at the other end, on the half-hour mark.

Joe Ward’s through ball deflected off the heel of Lloyd Kelly, kindly into the path of Marriott. The former Derby County striker made no mistake, firing low and hard across goal and into the bottom corner.

It was just a second goal in nine Championship matches for Posh.

Cherries took some time to get back into their stride, but did finally work Cornell with five minutes of the half remaining. Billing took aim again, with the keeper getting down to thwart his 20-yard strike.

Parker’s charges went close again to equalising just before the break as captain Kelly met a Christie corner, but headed over the crossbar.

Cherries did not have to wait too much longer after the restart to get on the scoresheet. Less than seven minutes into the second period, Phillips rose highest to head the ball on to Solanke. The striker in turn knocked it on to Christie, allowing the Scot to run at the defence. The midfielder shifted the ball onto his unfavoured right foot, before poking an effort in at Cornell’s near post, notching his third goal for the club since joining from Celtic in the summer.

Peterborough looked for a response. Skipper Oliver Norburn found space on the edge of the box after Cherries half-cleared a corner, but the shot was bravely blocked by the head of Phillips.

Despite each knowing the importance of three points for their respective causes, chances began to dry up. Phillips had to be alert to provide a last-ditch challenge to deny substitute Ricky-Jade Jones a clear effort on goal, before Jordan Zemura fired over as the game entered its final 15 minutes.

Parker turned to his bench in the closing 10 minutes, introducing Anthony, Lowe and Emi Marcondes, but it was Posh who almost snatched a late winner. Ward broke in from the right, but his low strike was well blocked by Kelly as the spoils were shared.

Despite the disappointment of only taking a point, Cherries do at least go back above Huddersfield on goal difference, and still have three games in hand on their Yorkshire opponents.

Cherries: Travers; Stacey (Anthony, 80), Phillips, Kelly, Zemura; Cook, Cantwell, Billing (Lowe, 87); Christie, Dembele (Marcondes, 87), Solanke.

Unused subs: Mepham, Cahill, Pearson, Woodman (g/k).

Booked: Zemura, Billing.

Peterborough: Cornell; Edwards, Knight, Kent; Ward, Jack Taylor (Szmodics, 66), Fuchs, Norburn, Burrows; Marriott (Jones, 69), Clarke-Harris (Joe Taylor, 78).

Unused subs: Beevers, Mumba, Grant, Blackmore (g/k).

Booked: Burrows.

Referee: Gavin Ward.