If, as seems likely, Rovers miss out on the play-offs, they may reflect on an inability to win enough points against League One's big boys.

The Pirates' only victory against one of the current top six this season was the valentine's Day triumph at sixth-placed Scunthorpe.

Saturday's defeat to a Posh side that still has a romantic eye on the League title was a prime example. Rovers were competitive but rarely put the opposition keeper under real pressure.

Left back Joe Jacobson was one of the few home players with reason to look back on the game with any affection.

The Wales Under-21 international captain made only his second start of the season after injury.

He is well aware that Rovers must look to improve against the division's leading lights.

"A lot of those teams are up there for a reason because they can beat the teams around them," he said.

"We have done well against the lower sides and against big clubs in cup competitions but the last three home games - against Leicester, Leeds and Peterborough we have only picked up one point so that is disappointing.

"If we want to progress in this division we have got to beat the teams above us and the games we have got coming up are against teams around us now.

"We need to kick on and win these next few games (at home to Stockport and Huddersfield) and see where it takes us."

Jacobson insisted he had not given up on making the play-offs and described the loss to Aaron Mclean's second half goal as a 'blip'.

"We have had a great run and we have had a blip but we will keep doing what we have been doing," he said.

"They are up there as one of the best teams in the league and I am sure they will do well.

They get the eight men behind the ball when we get possession and made it difficult for us to play."

Rovers' home record of seven wins, four draws and six defeats gives them a Memorial Stadium points total of 25, which is actually one point fewer than they have garnered on their travels.

"We don't know why that is," said Jacobson. "It might be because there is less pressure away from home compared to at home.

"We can hit teams on the break away but today we were missing a little something. But we know we are capable of winning the next couple of games at home and of we do that we will look forward again."

Rovers could have been celebrating had referee Carl Boyeson given them a clear first half penalty when Chris Westwood handled.

"The boys thought it was but to be honest I didn't quite see it, I know everyone says that but I was back on the halfway line," said Jacobson.

"But one of their players actually came up to me and said 'that was a penalty' so it was a little bit disappointing. If we had got that and converted it we would probably have been a different game.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and it was a sloppy goal we conceded and in the end we couldn't quite manage a clear cut chance.

"They are well organised and going forward they are pretty good. We found it difficult to break them down. Set pieces we created a few chances but we were disappointed with out build up play."

Jacobson replaced knee-injury victim Ryan Green but was more of a spectator in the opening stages as Rovers monopolised the early shooting as Chris Lines, Darryl Duffy and Rickie Lambert all tried their luck.

But Steve Phillips was called upon to save from Charlie Lee and the highly impressive George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith at the other end.

In the second half Rovers needed Byron Anthony to bravely block a Dean Keates shot before Mclean pulled an effort wide from a good position.

But Rovers did not to heed the warning and when the ball broke to Mclean again on 70 minutes he turned well and slotted a low shot across Phillips to break the deadlock.

Coach Paul Trollope made all three substitutions in a bid to turn the tide. Steve Elliott glanced a Stuart Campbell free kick past the far upright and David Pipe headed Jacobson's cross wide of the near post as Rovers ran out of ideas.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Phillips; Lescott, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobson; Pipe, Disley, Lines (Campbell 66), Hughes (Rigg 83); Lambert, Duffy (Kuffour 66). Subs not used: St. Louis-Hamilton, Hinton.

Peterborough (4-4-2): Lewis, Martin, Lee, Westwood, Williams (Blackett 90); Whelpdale, Coutts, Keates, Boyd; Mclean, Mackail-Smith. Subs not used: McKeown, Blanchett, Torres,

Batt.