Ian Baraclough praised the character of his players after Northern Ireland ended a turbulent week with a comeback win over Kosovo.
Josh Magennis' 93rd-minute header earned a first-ever victory in the Nations League at the 15th attempt.
The winner arrived 10 minutes after substitute Gavin Whyte had cancelled out Vedat Muriqi’s 58th-minute goal which had stunned Windsor Park into silence.
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An afternoon that began with Conor McMenamin becoming the second player in as many days to be sent home from the squad due to a video circulating online ended with a much-needed win for under-fire Baraclough.
"It is just a relief the players got their reward for a hard week's work they put in, and the concentration they put in. And the togetherness," Baraclough said.
"I applauded the fans after the game and then went into my office and just sat down and took a big sigh, a big breath.
"We will enjoy this win and move on and prepare for Tuesday's game against Greece."
He added: "Every win means something. But it is our first Nations League win in 15 and I'm really pleased with that and it gives us a platform to build on.
"We know we're not the finished article but we are still building and we are still trying things out.
"We have new players coming through. I thought Conor Bradley was fantastic at right wing-back and then right-back. He kept going forward.
"It was great having Jamal Lewis back and playing 75 minutes, considering he only had 45 in the last year.
"Players that create a competitive squad and we need to keep building on that."
Northern Ireland complete their Nations League campaign against Greece on Tuesday.
And Baraclough hopes his side can continue moving in the right direction.
"I did mention that the two previous windows beforehand had been positive and upbeat, and that June hadn't been a positive four games for us," he added.
"That's how it can happen in international windows. If we can get some result against Greece on Tuesday then it makes it three positive windows out of four.
"Then we can look back at June and say there was something understrength about us.
"We have to take care of business on Tuesday and hopefully we can play with a freedom from minute one, rather than it being a slow, edgy tempo. We will have to deal with the heat in Greece.
"It is hopefully a turning point from June, not the previous windows. We have been building steadily and building as we have gone along.
"We have given players the experience they need and hopefully come the Euro qualifiers we have players playing regularly for the clubs so it's difficult leaving them out."
Baraclough also praised the fans who packed into Windsor on Saturday evening, with over 17,000 in attendance at the South Belfast venue.
"I applauded the fans because they stayed with the players. It could have got edgy for the players because the one goal that puts you behind disappoints everyone," he added.
"But they showed great character and the fans stayed together with the team. I am just pleased we have sent them home happy.
"The endeavour is there to see for everyone. They love playing for their country and for the team."
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