Bournemouth’s automatic promotion bid dented by Peterborough draw

Jack Marriott’s fourth goal of the season helped Peterborough earn a rare away point as the bottom club put another dent in Bournemouth’s automatic promotion hopes with a 1-1 draw.

Posh had lost 16 of their 18 away games this season ahead of their daunting trip to the south coast.

But Marriott’s strike on the half-hour, cancelled out by Ryan Christie effort in the second half, turned the form table upside down.

Bournemouth boss Scott Parker was free to take his place in the dugout while he awaits punishment from the FA for his sending off in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Preston.

Parker handed January signing Siriki Dembele a starting berth against the club he left for £1million in January.

Posh made six changes from Friday’s defeat at Huddersfield as manager Grant McCann tried to arrest their dreadful away run.

McCann’s last win in charge of Hull was at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth, looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat at Preston, dominated possession in the first half but were wasteful in front of goal.

The hosts carved the first of numerous good chances after only two minutes.

Posh old boy Dembele cut in from the left before picking out Christie on the edge of the penalty area and the Scotland international curled his shot wide.

Marriott gave the hosts a scare a minute later by racing in behind the Bournemouth defence and shooting into the arms of Mark Travers.

Bournemouth came close again in the 10th minute when lovely interplay between Todd Cantwell and Dominic Solanke resulted in the latter failing to hit the target.

Defender Nat Phillips then blazed over from a Christie corner as the Peterborough goal continued to lead a charmed life.

Philip Billing should have done better in the 27th minute when a