Steve Cotterill met with the media following our 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers.
Luke Leahy, on his 100th appearance for the club, got Town off to a flying start at Montgomery Waters Meadow when he netted a brilliant header from a corner.
Rob Street then doubled our lead with an outstanding individual goal that saw him drive past a defender before arrowing the ball into the bottom corner.
Josh Coburn did pull a goal back for the visitors but Town defended superbly in the closing stages to secure a deserved win.
Speaking post-match, Steve was full of praise for his team's performance. And the boss also singled out Rob Street for praise - with the striker scoring a wonderful goal just hours after attending his grandad's funeral.
ON AN EXCELLENT WIN:
"It's nice to hear excellent win, it’s nice to hear that because it’s been a long time coming.
"But we’ve had so many waves to try and ride over the past six weeks, it’s just been incredibly difficult.
"We have been low on numbers, low on quality. Look at them (Bristol Rovers) making five subs – and the calibre of the subs they can bring on, they would be in our starting line-up.
"But then they have a budget that won’t be far off twice ours. That’s why they can afford to get better players.
"We have taken four points out of six from Bristol Rovers this year which is a good return."
ON LUKE LEAHY SCORING AFTER THREE MINUTES:
"It's funny because we did a little bit of extra work yesterday on our set-plays because I don’t think we have made the most of them.
"And without saying that was perfect with what we rehearsed, it was perfect!
"You wouldn’t believe it. If you’d have been here yesterday and recorded training – then we go and score that.
"That was really, really, pleasing that we managed to get that goal which gave us a good start.
"And I know this is going to sloppy, but for those first three minutes we were fantastic.
"We flew out the traps and were bright at the start today. And that was important for us. That got us a good start in the game."
ON ROB STREET’S GOAL:
"It was brilliant for Rob Street. Brilliant for him. He hasn’t trained so far this week from the game at the weekend.
"He went to his grandad’s funeral this morning. He has driven up from London today. Great credit to the kid and honestly, I could not be happier for him that that’s happened.
"He deserves an enormous amount of credit for playing.
"And I probably wouldn’t have taken him off, but all of a sudden, he rolled his ankle.
"But what’s new with that – Shrewsbury picking up some sort of injury?"
ON ROB SCORING TWO GOALS RECENTLY:
"I’m really pleased about that because it’s something he works on every day.
"I think a lot of it is confidence. It's all very well and good him coming from Crystal Palace, but he hadn’t played at League One level.
"I think all of the loanees have been great, but we are talking about Rob at the moment because of the circumstances that involved him playing tonight.
"He deserves huge credit. As do the other loan players, I never want to leave them out.
"They have really been integral to the group. And the group have accepted them because they are good lads.
"We have been extremely lucky with the loan players this year because they have really played their part."
ON SECURING THE WIN AFTER ROVERS PULLED IT BACK TO 2-1:
"The old adage was Chey Dunkley, Tom Flanagan and Taylor Moore getting their head on balls into the box.
"They were ably assisted by Elliott (Bennett) and Jordan Shipley.
"The midfield players worked extremely hard in front of them.
"When all of a sudden, a team makes five changes - 50% of their outfield players - it’s hard. It’s hard when they do that.
"And you have got your boys who are in their second game. They have already played 90. But some of their players played 60 I think at the weekend and came off.
"It must be a delight for Joey (Barton) to have a squad that size. And a budget that is much bigger than ours to get those players in.
"I think the board at Bristol Rovers have done very well in putting together that squad - or helping Joey put that squad together."
ON A TEAM HUDDLE AND LAP OF HONOUR AT THE END:
"I just wanted to make sure everyone was together, I wanted to go around and thank the supporters.
"I just had a small few words I wanted to say to the players before we went round.
"As per normal, I thanked them for their efforts. They have been a special group of lads – they really have.
"I like them a lot. In fact, I said in my programme notes I love them and I probably do. I love them a lot.
"In fact, I love them but I don’t always like them! Work that one out!"
ON BEING BACK IN THE TOP HALF OF LEAGUE ONE:
"It was good to win our last home game. Everyone likes that, it sends the supporters off with a warm feeling, so we’re pleased about that.
"We are down and are a bit sorry about the run we have been on.
"But there hasn’t been anything we can do about it – only have a bigger squad. But to have a bigger squad, you’ve got to have a bigger budget.
"We have done what we have done even against all the injuries we have had. And they have not been two-bob injuries.
"They have been proper injuries. Operations left, right and centre. When (Julien) Dacosta was here, him. (Aiden) O’Brien when he was here.
"Elliott Bennett, Matthew Pennington, Tom Flanagan. Tom Flanagan has done great to play in these last two games because his ankle is not right.
"Tom Bayliss, Dan Udoh, George Nurse. Imagine what it would be like to have them available.
"And most of them could get in most League One squads, those players.
"It has been incredibly tough. Incredibly tough. But there has been lots of enjoyment along the way."
ON THE DEPARTURE OF CEO BRIAN CALDWELL FROM THE CLUB:
“Sadness. Sadness is my reaction.
"I think the football club has lost a good guy, a good CEO.
"In the two and half years since I came in, the chairman said he wanted me to work closely with him. I did that.
"He was just very, very, supportive towards me, especially when I had Covid and that time when I was coming back to work. He was very caring.
"I will miss him without a shadow of a doubt. It is very sad that is the bottom line. He is a good guy, a good guy."
