Simon Weaver was pleased with how Harrogate responded to their midweek defeat against Newport with a 1-1 draw at Swindon.
The play-off hopefuls would have been celebrating all three points but for Charlie Austin’s late equaliser.
Harrogate boss Weaver said: “Without doubt, it was a good response from the other night (the 4-1 defeat at home to Newport on Tuesday).
“Because even though we’re a good team, we’re allowed to be ambitious and to be better and to get better but the other night was so flaky.
“It really knocked the stuffing out of me as I was really surprised by the lack of application, but today we were all fired up.
“It couldn’t get much lower than the other night to be honest but today was much better.
“We looked like a professional football club for a start and we showed all the different facets needed to do well at this level.
“But I am disappointed we didn’t put them to bed before they scored in the 85th minute.”
Harrogate took the lead seven minutes into the second half.
Anthony O’Connor stole a march from a wide free-kick and ran away from his markers to nod the ball beyond Jack Bycroft and into the far corner of the net.
Swindon almost struck back straight away as Udoka Godwin-Malife got free down the side and his cross into the area deflected back to Paul Glatzel in the area, but his low shot was cleared off the line.
With five minutes remaining, veteran Austin scored a towering header to salvage a draw after Zachary Elbouzedi had finally worked enough room to pick him out with a cross from the right.
Swindon interim boss Gavin Gunning was frustrated with the flatness of his side’s performance on the back of a midweek win over Tranmere.
He said: “The performance was not very good. It was just flat.
“Maybe Tuesday has taken a lot out of us, the pitch was very heavy, I am not making excuses but you have got to take that into consideration.
“It was poor, the ball speed was too slow, everything was just clunky and it did not work, we were just in between all the time and we were not sure what we were supposed to be doing.
“It was hard to watch at times, but then in the second half they score and we come alive and start peppering the goal.
“Chaz did well, it was a great header, there were a few more chances that he should have scored, but it wasn’t a good performance.”
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Pirlo sacked as Sampdoria head coach after dismal Serie B start
Andrea Pirlo has been sacked as Sampdoria's head coach after just over a season at the helm.
Pirlo, who managed Juventus for the 2020-21 campaign, has been relieved of his duties after an underwhelming start to their Serie B season.
After finishing seventh in Italy's second tier last term, the 45-year-old was given the green light to try and return to Serie A at the second time of asking.
However, an opening day draw with Frosinone was followed up with back-to-back defeats to Reggiana and Salernitana, leaving them second-bottom in the division.
During his time in charge, Pirlo won 18 of his 45 matches in charge (D10 L17), averaging 1.42 points per game, a total only bettered by his time with Juventus (2.15).
Sampdoria return to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris this weekend in search of their first three points of the season, welcoming Bari to Genoa on Saturday.
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