Northampton Town pulled off a huge result as they beat Nene Valley Derby rivals Peterborough United 4-0.

The Cobblers took a 3-0 lead over the ten man Posh at half-time, as a brace by Sam Hoskins either side of a red card for the host’s Tayo Edun followed by a Dara Costelloe strike gave Kevin Nolan’s side control.

Tom Eaves added further gloss to the scoreline with a goal late in the second half as Northampton made it a home and away league double over Peterborough this season.

Success at the Weston Homes Stadium saw Northampton rise to 18th place in the League One table. They are seven points clear of the relegation zone after Burton Albion were defeated.

After midweek results had seen Burton Albion reduce the Cobblers’ margin on the dropzone to four points, Northampton arrived hoping for a win to ease their relegation anxieties. They were aided before things even started when Burton were beaten by promotion chasers Wrexham in an early kick-off.

Northampton began brightly as Eyoma had a header deflected wide before Cameron McGeehan had a shot cleared off the line.

Peterborough’s first chance of note had seen James Donnelly denied by Lee Burge.

A busy start ultimately saw Northampton strike first after 15 minutes of the contest. McGeehan’s pass released Hoskins, who curled a fine strike into the top corner.

An even game was then tilted when Peterborough were reduced to ten men. Defender Eyun raised his hands towards McGeehan and was rewarded with a straight red card.

Shortly after, Northampton made it 2-0. A foul on Costelloe was penalised by the referee with a penalty, which Hoskins duly converted to give the Cobblers an extended advantage.

It then soon became 3-0 when McGeehan picked off an attempted clearance before feeding Costelloe, who fired his strike beyond Jed Steer.

Ricky-Jade Jones was denied by Burge just after the break, but Northampton came mighty close to a fourth goal after when Steer denied McGeehan and Costelloe’s follow-up was blocked on the line by Jadel Katongo.

Eaves had come close when denied by Steer, but the Northampton substitute would make it 4-0 when he headed in from Mitch Pinnock’s free-kick, capping off a fine day for the Cobblers.

Northampton will seek to grab a further victory next time out when they welcome Reading to Sixfields.