First team manager Neil Cox gave his reaction to iFollow Iron after his side won 5-2 away to Harrogate Town on Tuesday night.
After winning three away league games in a row for the first time since January 2019, United were victorious away from home after goals from Emmanuel Onariase, Ryan Loft, Aaron Jarvis and also two from Abo Eisa, with one being a penalty.
Cox said: “I'm absolutely over the moon. Obviously, we rested the players (since Bolton at home last Tuesday), and we got a bit of work into them. I was able to get some stats into them that I have been working on.
“We generally need to score more from set-plays, because we are a big side, and have players who can be threats. But I thought we passed the ball really well and we were a strong team, we looked fit, we looked really organised."
He added: “When we went 1-1 I was a little bit disappointed with their goal, as I didn’t think it was a free kick, but to go 2-1 up when really we could have folded, and we have done in the past, I thought that mental strength we got into them this week showed. We spoke to them about our expectations of what we need from them. I know they are young men, but they have to be leaders, and that’s what they did today, every one of them.”
In terms of performance, Cox said he is not going to get carried away, adding: “We go again Saturday (against Leyton Orient at home). We need to get our home form up as we have a lot of home games coming up in the next four weeks, so I won’t get carried away. We will give them a day of rest, and then go back hard on Thursday and try get our home form sorted, going into the game with a little bit of confidence.”
He added: “I’m glad Lofty (Ryan Loft) got on the scoresheet tonight, I think his work rate has been excellent. I’m glad for him.
“I’m also glad for (John) McAtee, I thought it was an excellent ball through to Eisa, because over the last couple of weeks we have got in some great situations and we have wasted it. But it was excellent, and it was a great finish, and all around there were a lot of 7/10’s out there and that’s what we need to do.”
Jordan Clarke also returned to action with over 70 minutes on the pitch, and Cox said: “It’s nice to see Jordan back. I took him off as a precaution 4-1 up, and we have to look at him and wrap him up in cotton wool and see how he comes out of this."
He added: “I’m pleased for everybody. We are trying to build a new squad here, a lot of youngsters in the team. We have come here and given them a good game and come out as winners.”
United are back at home for the next two games, and Cox said: “We have to win our home games and be better there. We've started games really well at home, but we can’t keep it going. I’ll do my homework starting from tomorrow and have a look at them, get the stats and work on how we are going to play, and how we are going to try and win the game.”