Those stay-away fans who preferred to cram in some early Christmas shopping were certainly wiser than the 4,709 who brave the biting chill as this match struggled to even get off the starting blocks.
On paper and current form Swindon should have steamrollered Barry Fry's beleaguered outfit with just one away win all season.
Posh do not travel at all well and with Andy King's men enjoying an improved run in fortunes of late on the back of two successive victories, a landslide looked to be favourite, but it was not to be.
With only 16 fit players from which to choose, Peterborough actually looked the better of two poor sides in a turgid match and with a little more luck could actually have returned to London Road with all three points.
Referee Fletcher looking to post early for Christmas and distributed six yellow cards to the visitors compared with just one for Swindon, yet the game was not really that physical to warrant all of them.
Swindon failed to test the Posh keeper even once in the opening half, the closest opportunity falling to Eric Sabin who contrived to head out for a throw-in from deep inside the Posh six-yard box.
Posh looked marginally the better side at that moment, with man of the match David Farrell covering every inch of the park, making several important blocks at the back while proving a nuisance to the Swindon rearguard at the other end.
Danny Invincibile and Stefani Miglioranzi both squandered easy chances for the home side and even a promising move fizzled out tamely as the final ball was softly lofted into Dan Connor's welcoming hands.
Swindon looked the brighter after the break and were gifted two direct free-kicks within five minutes at a range that David Beckham would have relished. Sadly neither Andy Gurney nor John Jackson possessed the unique qualities of the England skipper and both were left wanting.
After overstretching for a near-post header which former Posh keeper Bart Griemink gathered safely, Farrell collided with the advertising hoardings and needed several minutes of treatment before he could resume.
At the other end Connor almost gifted the home side the lead, erratically punching a simple cross which was easier to catch straight into the path of the on-rushing Swindon forwards, but inept finishing and a decisive clearance by Farrell spared the Peterborough keeper's embarrassment.
Although Swindon were the busier of the two sides after the re-start, Peterborough's Jimmy Bullard was unlucky with a fierce direct free-kick from fully 30 yards that scraped the paint of Griemink's bar.
It was the former West Ham man that gave Posh the lead on 72 minutes after a hefty clearance by Adam Newton that found the highly-rated midfielder in acres of room 50 yards from goal. Bullard coolly strode round three Swindon defenders to tuck it wide of Griemink for his third goal of the season.
Swindon controversially replied within five minutes from the spot, leading scorer Sam Parkin adding to his 11-goal tally after Sabin was allegedly brought down.
Swindon manager Andy King admitted after the game that it would have been unjust if his side had won: "It was a lucky incident that led to our penalty but when things go in your favour you get the luck." Posh boss Barry Fry refused to speak to the press after the game