Justin, it wasn't a pretty job, but a professional job at that.

Yeah it wasn't pretty. We've had to defend very well and be strong and we were up against it but I didn't feel we got the decision we deserved at times. We've lost a player and I've seen it again and I'm not convinced it was a sending off, but credit to the group of players and the spirit they've got amongst them at the present time and we've played for a long time with ten men and kept a clean sheet.

The clean sheet's the important thing, you always say that but not only was it a clean sheet, with results at the weekend and on Tuesday, you've put diamonds a bit in front.

Well we spoke about it before the game, if you're going to be serious contenders, when other teams slip up you've got to capitalise and the players were thinking about that before the game and I think that showed in their performance. So tonight was a night where we could capitalise on the results from last night.

Lets look at the more positive things, the penalty, we all thought it was a penalty, did you?

Yeah, thought it was a stonewall penalty, Aaron's been sharp in the box, he's been clipped and gone down. It's nice that the penalty was dispatched without any fuss so pleased with the goal.

Was there any doubt that Tomlin was going to take it before the game?

No there wasn't any doubt. Tommo knew he going to take it and we've gone back to the beginning now, we've had that many misses we've lost count but it's nice to smile about one but we didn't really have many other chances in the game, it was tight and physical and there were a lot of freekicks, throw ins and long balls into our box but I thought the back four dealt with them comfortably.

And indeed making the change at half time, taking Aaron O'Connor off at half time and bringing on Matt Pattison, it gave shape to the game in the second half didn't it?

Yeah Matt's a right midfielder and Aaron was disappointed and rightly so but he accepted the decision because it's about the team and not about individuals so Patto's come on and given us our balance on the right and I thought Jefferson worked hard as a lone striker tonight after the sending off and I thought he was immense in terms of his work ethic which is what we expect from him playing in a Rushden and he's learnt that now. I think it was a good showing of character tonight as it's a tough place to come and I think it's the first time we've beaten them at their place so let's hope we can continue.

Sitting in the director's box, you had Terry, Wolleaston and the captain, so that's three big players out of the team so that just shows the strength and depth.

Yeah and that's credit to the players that have come in, obviously Macca's going to be disappointed that he's come in and got sent off and I'm disappointed for him because he's waited a hell of a long time to get his chance but my special praise tonight will be to Michael Corcoran because it was a tough decision on Saturday when I left him out of the side, as normal he took it professionally but rightly upset but he has come in tonight and been outstanding and captained the side which shows the kind of spirit and togetherness we have here is key, I've played in a lot of teams that have lacked that spirit and that's why I've never gone on to achieve anything, we've certainly got spirit in this group of players that should take us somewhere.

Without going over the top, is it performances like this, keeping a clean sheet with ten men for fifty minutes that sometimes changes your season, I know you've been doing well over the last few weeks and months but it's that kind of game which can push you a bit further up into the rankings.

I think so, we've been against it for a long period of time with ten men and I think they could have nicked it and equalised in the last dying seconds and it would have taken a lot of sting out of us but we've come away and we're now looking forward to Saturday. We'll regroup tomorrow and meet for a warm down from injuries and knocks and go again on Saturday.