Steve Cotterill described Bristol City's 2-0 victory at Scunthorpe as one of their biggest wins of the season.
Steve Cotterill: Pleased with the result
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas fired them in front from the penalty spot after 35 minutes and midfield man Luke Freeman finally made the game safe with a second goal five minutes from time.
It came against an in-form Scunthorpe side who suffered their first league defeat in eight games after losing two goalkeepers, each with a suspected broken arm, in the first half.
First-choice custodian Sam Slocombe lasted just eight minutes and his replacement Jamie Severn was stretchered off half an hour later.
It left centre-back Andy Boyce to take over the gloves for nearly an hour as a makeshift keeper.
"If anything them losing their two goalkeepers made our task even more difficult," insisted City boss Cotterill.
"It got the crowd up against us. But there can be absolutely no blame on my players for the injuries to the two goalkeepers. If anything we were not aggressive enough in parts of our play.
"We always knew this was going to be a tough game at Scunthorpe.
"There have been on a good run themselves of 11 games without defeat. We were two of the form teams coming into this match.
"If we achieve what we want to achieve at the end of the season, we will look back on this as three big points for us.
"Not many teams will get much here. I think this is one of our biggest wins of the season.
"But we did have the chances to make things much easier for ourselves before Luke Freeman finally got us the second goal."
Scunthorpe manager Mark Robins, who has re-built the side since taking charge in October, was hugely proud of his team in which he had three of his signings making their home debuts - full-back Jordan Clarke, winger Jacob Murphy and striker Tom Hopper.
"I am massively disappointed with the result but hugely proud of my players," he said.
"I am disappointed with the manner in which Bristol got both their goals.
"The first came from a penalty after a throw-in that should never have been and the second was after a clear handball in the build-up that I think everyone in the stadium has seen.
"The Bristol manager says he has got the best players in this division. And there is no doubt they are one of he best teams in this division.
"But my players can holds their heads up because we were the better team out there today. There were times when we made them look ordinary.
"We showed so much character and commitment. The only thing that was lacking was a goal.
"There are still things I would like to do in the January transfer window if the right players become available.
"But we have to be careful - and now it seems we will also have to be looking for another goalkeeper as a priority."