Motherwell boss Graham Alexander says he was proud of his side for their 1-0 win at Ross County today, and praised their discipline throughout a tough 90 minutes.
And he paid tribute to a large, vocal support who travelled to Dingwall to cheer on their heroes through the game.
Kevin Van Veen climbed off the bench to earn and score a crucial penalty winner that puts Motherwell up to fifth place in the Premiership table, ahead of their final two games.
Alexander says he could hear the away fans in the 3067 crowd at the Global Energy Arena, and they played their part in the victory, which gives Motherwell a chance of sealing European football for next season.
But the former Scotland international says there is a lot of hard work still to be done in clashes at home to Hearts on Wednesday and at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Alexander told Motherwell's website: "I'm delighted, it was a brilliant result for us in a tough game, which we expected.
"I'm so proud of the players, because we've come here, I feel, on the back of a harsh 1-0 defeat [at Dundee United] last week - I thought the players played well, we had some great chances, and fortunes went against us for the goal.
"But we dusted ourselves down, we've worked hard this week - well the ones that could, because we've had a lot of players off with illness - but they showed that they care, they trust each other, and care for each other.
"Kevin Van Veen and Callum Slattery were two of the lads who were off all week, they only trained yesterday, and even that took it out of them, but we were delighted to have them on the bench,.
"We spoke to them before, saying there's going to be a moment when we need you both, and Kev has come up with that moment, first of all winning the penalty and then putting it away was brilliant.
"He lives for those moments, Kev.
"I thought, as a club today, with the support that we had today it's a brilliant day for us."
The first half might not have been a spectacle for those watching on today, with few chances, but Alexander says it went exactly how he had hoped, and that gave the Steelmen confidence to get the three points.
He said: "I thought we were in control of what we wanted to do in the first half. We feel, in the games we've played against Ross County, we almost play like the away team, and bring you on to them and they hit you on the counter.
"We played a really disciplined game today. I thought the players were excellent in the first half, we didn't give many opportunities away, if any, and we didn't expose ourselves unnecessarily.
"We went in 0-0 at half-time, which we were content with, and we felt that if we kept the cleans we would have the quality to get the goal.
"The onslaught happened after that, we got deeper and deeper, and I can understand it, because they're trying to squeeze us up the pitch to get a bit of pressure on.
"Sometimes you have to be a bit more aggressive, and some of the blocks, tackles and saves were amazing, so I'm delighted for them all."
Alexander paid tribute to the supporters, and says he hopes to reward them in their final two games of the season this week.
He said: "The support were brilliant, I heard them when the players were warming up. I could hear them singing, I could hear the drum, and I thought is it going to be another one of those days when it's a bit special.
"We mentioned it before the game, about how you've got everybody behind you out there, so let's go and give them something worth shouting for, and I think the players did that.
"It was great to thank them at the end for that support, because they were there for us all the way through the game. We want to repay that every opportunity that we can.
"We know sometimes we let ourselves down and let them down, but it's not for the want of trying. We'll always try our best, we did that today, and it was a great result for us all.
"But we saw in the top-six split that it went right down to the wire and I can't see it being any different now.
"We've done the best we can to give ourselves a chance, we've got two massive, tough challenges in quick succession, with a quick turnaround, so hopefully we can get the boys recovered and see who is in a fit state to go again on Wednesday, and give it our best shot again.
"That's all we can ask of the players, and as long as they keep doing that for us and each other then I'll be a happy man."
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