Simon Weaver said his Harrogate players came through a “test of their nerve” after they bounced back from a chastening midweek defeat by holding promotion-chasing Crewe.
Weaver demonstrated his faith in his players by naming an unchanged side after Tuesday night’s 9-2 thumping at Mansfield.
And they responded with a determined showing which nullified Crewe in the first half.
Then, when the home side stepped up the pressure after the break, goalkeeper James Belshaw performed heroics to ensure a clean sheet.
“It was about getting back on the horse and proving that we are a gritty team,” said Weaver. “At Crewe they don’t come much tougher but everyone can be proud of themselves as they defended well and put in a great performance.
“It was a test of our nerve on the back of the other night. We needed to show we are a side full of character and show the resilience that we have, that we’re not knocked off our stride easily. We were a lot more compact and did everything together and made it hard work for Crewe.
“It was a freaky game at Mansfield and we got punished for everything we didn’t do well. But it was on the back of a run that perhaps we thought we might be a bit invincible at times.
“We didn’t get away with anything but it was a harsh lesson that has made us stronger.
“We’ve moved on and possibly benefited from it. James Belshaw didn’t have a chance the other night, but that was a world class save he made near the end.
“I thought we deserved a point and it was an important point when you look at Crewe’s form and where they are in the table.”
While they were disciplined and organised, Harrogate rarely threatened, although Matt Daly dragged an effort wide for the visitors he could have done more with.
Courtney Baker-Richardson went close with two thumping headers, the second one crashing against the bar before Belshaw thwarted Shilow Tracey and kept out a late blast from Charlie Kirk.
Crewe boss Lee Bell’s frustrations at the final whistle earned him a red card from referee David Rock, although afterwards he highlighted a positive week which has also seen wins against Crawley and Stockport.
“I thought we were excellent in the second half and pushed them all the way,” said Bell.
“Harrogate will be getting congratulated for throwing their bodies on the line with a couple of clear-cut chances but I was delighted with our second-half performance. I wasn’t pleased with the first half, but we adjusted and made a couple of changes.
“We tried to get more impetus in the game and I was pleased with the impact of our subs. Harrogate did their defending well but it has been a good week for us and a good three games. It is not always going to be 3-2s and 4-3s.”
On his dismissal, Bell said: “I didn’t really say anything, the minimum I have said back was deemed as confronting the referee on the pitch. But I’ve seen managers fighting down that tunnel and not get booked.
“I didn’t swear at him and then to get a red card is really perplexing. I’ll try and speak to the assessors because I didn’t think I was aggressive, although I was obviously frustrated.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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