ACCRINGTON Stanley need a miracle to avoid a third defeat in four games.

Dominant Peterborough coasted through the first half and all but wrapped up the three points after just 38 minutes.

Craig Mackail-Smith broke the deadlock with ease on 11 minutes as he latched onto Craig Morgan's throughball and sidefooted beyond an advancing Ian Dunbavin.

George Boyd then scored twice in seven minutes; the first after Mackail-Smith brought a low save from Dunbavin but the Stanley stopper could only palm it into Boyd's path.

The right winger made it 3-0 as he controlled Chris Whelpdale's right-wing cross in the area and buried the ball in the near corner.

Aaron McLean then piled more misery on Stanley seven minutes before the break.