Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson accused Gillingham striker John Akinde of diving to win a penalty.

Akinde was adjudged by referee Charles Breakspear to have been pushed in the box by visiting player Jack Taylor. The Gillingham striker then stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Ferguson said the decision to award the penalty was a disgrace but his side fought back in the second half, cancelling out Akinde’s goal and winning the match 3-1.

The Peterborough boss said: “I have watched the penalty back and it's a disgrace. Jack Taylor hasn’t touched him, he has just dived.”

Gillingham had dominated play in the first half but Peterborough came good in the second half.

Former Gills coach Mark Robson played a part in Peterborough’s comeback.

Robson was first team coach during Mark Stimson’s era at the club but is currently assistant manager to Ferguson at Peterborough.

He was on the touchline throughout Tuesday’s game as the visitors turned the tide with a much-improved second half performance.

A change of tactics and the introduction of their star player Siriki Dembele helped get them back in the game but so did a few harsh words in the dressing room

Ferguson said: “It’s a difficult place to go and with the wind as well it made things more difficult, but aside from the goal they didn’t trouble us at all and Christy Pym (the Peterborough goalkeeper) didn’t have a save to make in the entire game.

“Myself and Mark Robson got into the players at half-time and said to them they didn’t do themselves justice in the first half. We changed the formation and we caused them plenty of problems."

It’s the second time in a few days that Akinde has received criticism from an opposition manager.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer was cautioned following his protests after his own defender Deji Oshilaja was booked after a dive it the box. But he felt Akinde should have been booked too in the same game.

Bowyer said: “I shouted one thing to the fourth official about the diving, which was wrong, if it’s not a penalty then book him but do the same to their fella. His one was embarrassingly bad.”

Akinde had won a penalty for the Gills in the game against Charlton earlier on in the season at Priestfield, a match that finished 1-1. Bowyer adding: “It’s the same fella who gets the penalty at their ground – a blatant dive.”

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