Martin Ling was pleased with the patience shown by his men as they won 2-0 against Wrexham thanks to a solid defensive performance and well-taken goals by Wayne Hatswell and Robbie Willmott.
"Everyone talks about our early season games being against teams who weren't expected to be in and around the top," he said afterwards, "but I think our last two games can be seen to be that, in terms of Wimbledon and Wrexham today, and this was a good win.
"They played a 5-3-2 and we knew had to be patient because they would have plenty of the ball, but our patience paid off in the end and we broke them down and got the two goals, so that was pleasing."
Hatswell's second goal of the season was a low daisycutter of a free kick nine minutes into the game after a foul on Chris Holroyd, and Willmott also doubled his tally with a rasping drive nine minutes from the end after he cut in from the left to beat the keeper at his near post.
"It's always a worry at 1-0," admitted Ling. "It's a scoreline that makes a manager sit there on tenterhooks. We were the better side in the first half and at the start of the second half they came out at us a little bit, but when they went 4-4-2 it actually helped us because we got back into the game.
"With Robbie getting the second goal it made it comfortable. People get nervy - fans and managers alike - but the second goal relieved that tension and it was good for Robbie to get another one as well, and maybe we could have got another one at the end when Bees went through. So it's a pleasing win against a team that's expected to be there or thereabouts."
One of the key battles of the match was the one between veterans Wayne Hatswell and former Wales international Gareth Taylor, and the manager hailed Hatswell for his performance: "I thought Hats was outstanding.
"Gareth Taylor is a hard one to mark and the referee has got a hard job because each of them is pulling the other, but the centre half pairing at the moment looks very solid. You don't like to say that as a manager because the next one might sting you, but they do look solid.
"And as a unit that's another clean sheet and if you keep clean sheets and stay frugal at the back then it obviously gives you a chance to win the game with a goal at the other end."
Ling kept faith with the same starting line-up for the seventh successive game, and although Mark Beesley was a late substitute for the hard-working Danny Crow, Lee Phillips was confined to the bench for the 90 minutes.
"Both Bees and Lee Phillips are happy with our form," said Ling. "They might get a bit frustrated at the moment but the results keep coming and they're going to have to be patient."
United now travel to York on Tuesday before returning to the Abbey to face Luton on Saturday and the manager concluded, "The results have been good and our next two opponents York and Luton were both here watching us today, with their game being off, so they've had a good look at us and it will be a good test next week."
Next Up
You can find ticket and away travel details and directions here for York City on Tuesday evening. Our following home match against Luton Town on Saturday 26th September is all-ticket and the restriction will definitely not be lifted so there will be no pay on the day admittance. Tickets are on sale now until 5pm on Friday [details].
[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]
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