A club statement read: “Darren Ferguson has been appointed as manager until the end of the current season.

“With 17 games to go in the Sky Bet League One season, it was important that an appointment of a new manager was done swiftly and with somebody that has knowledge of the football club and has managed in this division.

“Everybody at Peterborough United are focused on ending the season with a promotion push and with that in mind, we are pleased to appoint Darren Ferguson as our new manager on a deal that runs until the end of the season.”

Posh had earlier announced that Evans and assistant manager Paul Raynor had been released from their contract less than an hour after full-time, with the club sitting in sixth place in League One.

Evans was appointed Peterborough boss in February last year. He began this season with five straight league wins, but the club has slowly moved down the table since and were knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy by Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Evans’ last match saw his goalkeeper Conor O’Malley earn Posh a point with a 79th-minute penalty save after Jason Naismith brought down Josh Cullen on the edge of the area, although replays suggested he took the ball first.

Addicks striker Karlan Grant, who has been strongly liked with a move to Premier League Huddersfield, saw his weak penalty saved.

That was the second penalty the Irishman has saved in the league this season, on top of three in the cup.

A frustrated Charlton boss Lee Bowyer said: “The lads gave it everything and deserved to win. Especially in the second half we were by far the better side.

“We hit the bar and could not get on the end of a couple of crosses. We looked dangerous every time we came forward. They tried to hit us on the break.

“We deserved to win and I’m gutted for everybody – the fans and the players who gave it everything.

“There’s not been many games where we did not score but it’s another clean sheet. Another day we win by two or three.

“At half-time I just said be more confident in possession and more positive – back yourself, you’re a good footballing side. And we showed that today. The quality we showed was very high.

“I’m just disappointed for everybody, but at least we haven’t come away with nothing.”

The penalty save was the big moment in a match of few chances between two sides in the play-off positions.

The Addicks, who sit in fourth, had won three and drawn one of their past four matches before the game, and after soaking up some early pressure Cullen tested O’Malley with a volley which the goalkeeper tipped over.

A minute into the second half Posh could have scored when Ivan Toney crossed low to Matt Godden, but his strike partner shot wide.

Grant then saw a deflected shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area hit the bar and bounce clear.

The striker should then have won the match, only for O’Malley to deny him from the spot.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport Staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'b3a3a505-60d8-42db-891d-12cdde9bf4b8');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Darren Ferguson returns for a third spell as Peterborough manager'});