Match report: Accrington Stanley 0 Peterborough United 2

It is the first occasion since Stanley landed promotion back to the big-time' that they have suffered the ignominy of staring up at the rest of the League's 91 clubs.

But while the Reds' position at the foot of the division makes for unpleasant viewing, a more pressing concern is knowing how they can quickly turn around a poor slump in form.

On the opening day of the campaign, after knocking up an impressive 1-0 away win at Wycombe, John Coleman's men were on their way to making a mockery of the bookmakers who painted a picture of gloom and predicted another relegation dogfight.

But four successive defeats, including a Carling Cup exit, no goals and shipping eight at the other end suggests it could be yet another long nine months ahead.

A dearth of goals is unquestionably Stanley's number one dilemma. It was not a problem last season after racking up 70 league goals - one of the best records in the division.

Very rarely do Stanley go four games without hitting the back of the net - and only on the odd occasion did they look capable of beating Peterborough stopper Mark Tyler on Saturday.

And while Tyler enjoyed a reasonably comfortable afternoon at the Fraser Eagle Stadium, opposite number Kenny Arthur was working over-time.

The Scottish keeper saved Aaron Mclean's first-half penalty, conceded by Graham Branch after upending the former Grays striker, and produced a string of fine stops to keep Stanley in the game.

Only the excellent Arthur came out of the match with any real credit, as too many Stanley players were off their game.

But the former Partick Thistle man could do nothing to halt defeat, as Charlie Lee blasted the Posh ahead in the 55th minute, before Mclean wrapped up matters with a second deep into stoppage-time.

Compounding Stanley's misery were red cards to Branch and Lee McEvilly, as indiscipline reared its ugly head again.

Branch was dismissed in the final stages for two yellows, while McEvilly was deservedly given his marching orders for stamping Jamie Day, just 10 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

It was an ugly swipe from McEvilly and manager Coleman insists, once he has viewed the incident of video, he will use appropriate action' if he finds his striker is guilty.

But Coleman admits that no matter how down in the dumps the Reds are feeling in the wake of another home loss, his players must pick themselves up immediately.

"I'm disappointed that we haven't scored again and very disappointed with our lack of discipline for the (McEvilly) sending off," said Coleman "But I don't think we can have too many complaints about the result.

The Reds boss, however, has no qualms with the two red cards, but claims Stanley were harshly treated by referee Darren Drysdale and his officials.

He said: "I don't really want to criticise the officials because I've got no real complaints about the sending offs.

"But I've got a complaint about the number of fouls that were given against us, some of which were absolutely horrendous."

In Stanley's defence, they came up against a strong Posh side - one of the favourites for promotion from League Two season - that has been assembled with sums of money that Coleman can only dream about.

Frontmen Mclean and George Boyd were signed for a combined £410,000 in the January transfer window. How can Stanley keep up with that?

And the Reds were made to do most of the running in the first-half as United made a breezy start.

But Darren Ferguson's men were thwarted by an inspired display from Arthur, who kept the Reds alive with a sixth minute penalty save.

Branch hauled down Mclean and was booked for his troubles. However, from 12 yards, Mclean fired his penalty down the centre and Arthur managed to beat it away.

Minutes later, Arthur flung himself full stretch to pluck out Boyd's volley bound for the top corner.

At the other end, Stanley's efforts were limited, although Rommy Boco's cross-cum-shot struck the top of the crossbar with Tyler completely stranded.

Posh stormed back, the instrumental Day fizzing a half-volley just wide of the upright and, five minutes before the break, Day's close-range effort was brilliantly kept out by Arthur.

It was pretty much one-way traffic until the Reds produced one of the best chances of the half.

Boco squirmed to the by-line to deliver a teasing cross for Paul Mullin.

Stanley fans waited for the net to burst, but just five yards out and centre of goal, Mullin could only head over.

Coleman shook things around in the second-half, bringing on McEvilly and Roscoe Dsane for his Reds debut, but within a minute they went behind after Roberts needlessly brought down Boyd.

Stanley went to sleep at a quick free-kick, and given time to run and pick his spot, Lee rifled a 20-yard thunderbolt past Arthur.

McEvilly's dismissal meant an uphill struggle for Stanley but, as so often is the case, the 10 men produced some good football.

The Reds tried to cash in on their short spell of pressure. Leam Richardson blasted over after Tyler spilled a free-kick from Branch, and Posh frantically cleared Mullin's goalbound effort.

With 10 minutes remaining, Coleman was fuming when Boco was infringed inside the box and Drysdale waved away penalty appeals.

And minutes later, Boco missed Stanley's best chance when his back post volley was blocked.

Posh were always a threat on the counter-attack and were twice denied by Arthur, while Mclean slammed the crossbar following a three-on-two raid.

Branch was dismissed for a second yellow, after tripping Josh Low, and two minutes into injury-time, the visitors wrapped up the points when Mclean drilled a low effort past Arthur.