Nick Townsend praised the character shown by his Newport County side in their 2-1 victory over Morecambe on Tuesday night.
Goals from Joe Thomas and David Ajiboye secured the win at Rodney Parade, marking back-to-back victories for the first time since October.
The Exiles' goalkeeper was pleased with how his team responded after a challenging run of form, highlighting the resilience and determination they displayed to secure the three points.
“We needed that win,” he said. “The lads have dug deep, and it’s shown that we’re starting to gel. It’s still a young team, and we know that.
“I think it’s taken until now to really come together. We’ve had a few new lads come in as well, which has strengthened us quite a bit.
“It was massive three points for us. It gives us a bit of daylight, and it’s a step in the right direction for where the club wants to go.
“We knew the importance of the last two games, we understood what needed to be done. I get that we’re not playing the prettiest football, but we’re playing effective football.
“We’re picking up points now, which is keeping us safe, and that allows us to start building the foundations of a strong team for the future.
“Tuesday night, I think the lads have really shown what they’re made of. A lot of them are experiencing men’s football for the first time, and they’re thriving.
“They’re learning the game, and League Two football doesn’t change - it’s tough. This experience will help them in their careers because this is what football is about. They’re learning the hard way, but sometimes that’s the best way to learn.”
He added: “After the win we’ve got the foundations now to build on. This is the hard part of football—it’s not always about playing nice, attacking football.
“We’re coming to the business end of the season where results matter, and other teams will go more direct to get points.
“We know that now, and we have to get through this period, learn from it, and come back stronger.”
