It needed split second reflex saves from goalkeeper Chris Day to prevent ten-man Peterborough from ending Nationwide Division Two promotion favourites Queen's Park Rangers' long unbeaten run.
With Rangers bidding to stretch their sequence to 13 games, the impressive Day palmed down a late drive from striker Leon McKenzie and then managed to stick out a boot to stop substitute Calum Willock's fierce shot as Posh brushed aside the loss of skipper Sagi Burton and made an all-out bid for a first home league win.
Already cautioned, Burton saw red for the second time this season after only 30 minutes when leaving referee Trevor Kettle no alternative but to point to the dressing rooms when he kicked out wildly at Marc Bircham.
Burton's actions were slammed by Posh's manager Barry Fry who said: "I gave Sagi responsibility as captain to try and calm him down but there is no excuse.
"He let himself and the club down and will be fined the maximum of two weeks' wages. The efforts of the other players got him out of jail against the best side in the division.
"Just look at QPR's bench, it's frightening but we couldn't get the goal the second-half display deserved even with the crowd getting behind the side and almost making up for the missing man." Rangers asked all the early attacking questions with Paul Furlong and Kevin Gallen both denied by the alert Mark Tyler, although luck was with the Posh goalkeeper after a second-half free kick from substitute Eric Sabin took a wicked deflection and slammed against the post before rebounding to safety.
But boss Ian Holloway was far from happy with the Rangers showing and lectured his men in their dressing room after the game.
"Your often hear of ten men beating 11 and it almost happened to us and I am not happy with it," he stormed.
"We did not pass well or achieve anything like a good shape and the display was simply not acceptable."