Team news

Posh sweating on Zakuani Peterborough defender Gabby Zakuani faces a race against time to be fit for the visit of Leicester.

A back injury forced Zakuani off little over an hour into the home defeat to West Ham on Tuesday night. The colossal defender is a doubt for Saturday but manager Darren Ferguson is hopeful of enough improvement in his condition to allow him to line-up against the Foxes.

The Posh boss is exploring the possibility of shaking up his midfield after naming an unchanged XI for the past five matches, with Daniel Kearns and Joe Newell options for Ferguson who is adamant he will not be splitting up the blossoming strike partnership of Paul Taylor and Tyrone Barnett.

"I'm hopeful that Gabby will be okay. He was in a lot of pain after the game on Tuesday and we couldn't really release the stress in his back on Wednesday," said Ferguson. "Hopefully things will start improving soon and he is going to a chiropractor. If necessary, we will leave it until the last minute before making a decision on whether he plays on Saturday.

"I know I can trust Gabby anyway. If he says he is fit, he will be in the team. If that is not the case then Craig Alcock will move into the centre of defence and Mark Little will come back in at right-back.

"One area I may look to make some changes is midfield but I haven't made my mind up yet. I definitely won't be changing the front two." Richie Wellens will return to the Leicester squad.

Wellens has missed the last two matches with a calf injury, but the midfielder is poised to come back into the reckoning at London Road.

"He trained this (Thursday) morning," said Foxes boss Nigel Pearson. "Barring any reaction, he will be in the squad but it is really a case of seeing how players are on Friday now ahead of the game on Saturday." Andy King and Darius Vassell returned to action following injury as Leicester participated in a fundraising match for cash-strapped neighbours Kettering on Wednesday night.

Midfielder King, who was an unused substitute the previous evening as the Foxes drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest, has been out since suffering a foot injury in January. Striker Vassell has been sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in October.

Peterborough vs Leicester

Last modified 17:52 31/03/12

The Posh enjoy Fox hunt Leicester's npower Championship play-off hopes suffered another setback as they were beaten 1-0 by Peterborough at London Road.

Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was called into action on a handful of occasions before Posh made the breakthrough on the hour mark through Paul Taylor.

Captain Grant McCann should have extended the lead two minutes afterwards but his penalty was saved by Schmeichel.

Peterborough's 10th home win of the season looks like guaranteeing they will be playing Championship football again next season.

Leicester's hopes of gatecrashing the top six are even slimmer after this loss left them seven points adrift with six matches remaining.

Gabby Zakuani's back problem forced Posh boss Darren Ferguson to change his starting XI for the first time in six games. Mark Little came back into the side to replace the big defender.

The Foxes were unchanged after drawing 0-0 with east midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in midweek.

Jermaine Beckford put an early chance wide for the visitors before Schmeichel was worked for the first time shortly afterwards, helping McCann's free-kick over the crossbar in the seventh minute.

David Nugent, Ben Marshall and Wes Morgan tried their luck from long range without really troubling Paul Jones in the Peterborough goal.

Sol Bamba faired better, with Jones having to make a couple of parrying saves following headers from the big Ivorian before half-time.

In between, Schmeichel had to push away a 20-yarder from Taylor.

George Boyd flashed a shot just wide early in the second half before Lloyd Dyer went close at the other end.

Schmeichel then had to save with his feet to keep out an angled shot by Emile Sinclair.

Taylor made the breakthrough in style with a superb effort from 25 yards out that flew into the bottom right-hand corner.

Peterborough were presented with the chance to extend their lead in the 62nd minute when Schmeichel brought down Tommy Rowe but the Dane made amends by saving McCann's spot-kick.

Danny Drinkwater and Marshall threatened for Leicester midway through the second half but, once again, their efforts were from long range.