The Pilgrims are now four points ahead of fourth-from-bottom Northampton after getting the best of a scrappy encounter that saw Peter Kioso sent off late on for the Posh.

A bright start from Plymouth was almost rewarded just eight minutes in when their top scorer Lorent Tolaj lifted Ronan Curtis’ cross narrowly over.

The Pilgrims were ahead in the 23rd minute when Tolaj nicked possession from Tom O’Connor near the Peterborough area before – with goalkeeper Alex Bass in no man’s land – squaring for Pepple to score into the open goal.

Pepple ought to have doubled his tally just after the half-hour mark when he blasted a terrific cross from Curtis over from only eight yards out.

Another chance for Pepple came when he got on the end of Joe Edwards’ cut-back but was denied by a good save from Bass before Kioso saw red for a second booking late on.