Steve Cotterill has set his sights on dragging more teams into the League Two relegation picture after Forest Green moved out of the bottom two.
Two goals from Christian Doidge earned Rovers a 2-0 win at Bradford – their fourth victory in seven games.
That took them above Colchester into 22nd spot and Cotterill wants to keep building the momentum.
He said: “I’ve been in the game a long time and things can change in football. Let’s hope we can keep it going now and stay above that line and claw in another team or two.
“We’re happy, but we’re humble. We’ll now be a lot higher in the form table too.
“They’re really united in that dressing room and now they know what I’m talking about when I say team spirit. They’re doing the unsavoury jobs for each other.
“It was an unbelievable result and fully deserved as well. We were exceptionally organised, especially when you’re getting worked.”
Doidge scored with a first-minute header and then converted a stoppage-time penalty after a foul on Charlie McCann.
“I’m so, so pleased for him,” added Cotterill. “Those two goals are brilliant.
“He was at it from the start and he was at it right at the end.
“We’re not there yet. But I think that’s probably down to a couple of three-game weeks, when you get less time on the grass, as well as injury and illness.
“You’re gambling when you’re putting people on the pitch who have had very few minutes.”
The defeat ended a six-match unbeaten run for Bradford.
And Bantams manager Graham Alexander admitted the early goal played into Forest Green’s hands.
“The goal right in the first minute gave them the opportunity to play the game they wanted, playing so deep and blocking up all the space we need to try and create,” he said.
“We got sucked into playing at a pace that they were happy with.
“We thought we had control of the game and the possession but that’s what they wanted. They were in control of the pitch.
“It’s a poor goal from our perspective. It’s poor how they win a corner straight from the kick-off.
“We’re going backwards instead of coming on to it, which we’ve been really good at.
“We gave a team fighting for their lives a massive present in the first minute.
“In the second half we got into better areas but just couldn’t find the quality to get the equaliser.”
Substitute Jamie Walker came close to a second-half equaliser before a ricochet almost went over the line.
“I don’t know if it didn’t,” added Alexander. “I think we should score off the first one because it’s a great chance.
“The second one comes off their defender and looked over the line but it’s irrelevant now.”
Kane blames Messi and Ronaldo for number nine shortage
Harry Kane has blamed the influence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the lack of current number nines in the game.
He credits the two footballing behemoths for encouraging new players to be wingers rather than taking up the traditional striker role.
Kane has made his own case for being listed among the best in the number nine role. He netted his 50th goal in the Bundesliga in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Augsburg last week, reaching the milestone in just 43 appearances.
It smashed the previous record of 50 set by Erling Haaland during his time at Borussia Dortmund.
"The game is changing a little bit. The way coaching is now [means] a lot of players grow up wanting to be wingers,” Kane told TNT Sport Brazil.
"I think Messi and Cristiano dominated for a long, long time playing off the wings. I think a lot of players wanted to watch them.
"When I was growing up, I had some of the best strikers in the world [to watch], so I wanted to be a number nine.
"That’s just the way football goes. I think, tactically, some managers play with a false nine, or a nine-and-a-half or 10 position.
"But for sure, when I was growing up at number nine, there were some incredible players."
Kane certainly took note, becoming a complete striker. Of Kane's 50 Bundesliga goals, 10 have come from penalties, while 32 of them have been with his right foot, nine with his left and nine with his head.
He is also the quickest Bayern player to hit 50 league goals for the club, surpassing Robert Lewandowski's previous record of 64 games by a staggering 21 matches.
The England captain, who is preparing for a Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, drew particular inspiration from Brazilian great Ronaldo.
"I think we’re totally different players in the way we play, but ultimately, the way he used to finish was as good as anyone, as well as the way he moved with the ball,” Kane added.
"His dribbling ability. His movement. I think he was as good as anyone in the world. He had a lot more ability than me if I’m totally honest. He had good pace as well.
"But for me growing up, I tried to watch all the best strikers in the world, and he was in his prime at the time.
"It was a joy to watch him, and it’s been nice to score a few goals myself and take a few bits from his game."
USWNT goalkeeper Naeher to retire from international football
United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is to retire from international football next month.
Naeher has won 113 caps for the USWNT and was a regular between the sticks during their most recent World Cup-winning campaign in 2019, also starting for Emma Hayes' Olympic Gold medallists in Paris earlier this year.
The 36-year-old, who has represented the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL since 2016, will link up with Hayes' side for their upcoming friendlies against England and the Netherlands, but that will be the final camp she attends.
Naeher said in a statement posted to her Instagram account: "With immense gratitude and very thoughtful consideration, I have decided to retire from the international game.
"Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honour.
"This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime.
"I know one chapter is ending, but I am so excited to continue to see the growth of this team going forward and what more they can accomplish."
Hope Solo (202) and Briana Scurry (175) are the only goalkeepers to make more appearances for the team than Naeher, who made her debut versus Argentina in December 2014.
Mbappe position switch works wonders for Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied his tactical decision to switch Kylian Mbappe's position in attack paid off in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Leganes.
Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the season to help Madrid to a comfortable victory in LaLiga on Sunday.
However, his position in Madrid's front line has been a topic of debate since he joined the Spanish champions, with Mbappe having often played out wide while at Paris Saint-Germain.
And Ancelotti elected to switch Mbappe out to the left flank against Leganes, with Vinicius Junior spearheading Los Blancos' attack.
"Mbappe played on the left side, where he did well, and Vinicius on the inside," Ancelotti told reporters.
"We have to highlight their play to open the scoring. They did very, very well. Mbappe scored, after a fantastic assist from Vinicius. Little by little, they're both improving.
"Kylian is more used to playing there and today, for the team and for him, it was the best thing.
"Because playing on the outside brings more effort and Vinicius was back on Thursday. Meanwhile, Kylian had been training here for a week and a half, he was fresher."
Mbappe was not called up by France coach Didier Deschamps for this month's Nations League games, despite being Les Bleus' captain.
With an injury crisis at the back and a trip to Anfield to face Premier League and Champions League leaders Liverpool coming up, Ancelotti added he was hopeful of Lucas Vazquez, who has a hamstring strain, and Aurelien Tchouameni, who is recovering from a sprained left ankle, returning to action.
He was also upbeat about the contribution of Federico Valverde, who scored from a free-kick while filling in at right-back.
"The truth is that Fede, at the back, has done very well," said Ancelotti of the Uruguayan, who also wore the captain's armband.
"He's a fantastic fullback. After Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, the best right-back in the world. His problem is that he can play at this level in many positions and is the coach's problem to choose the best position for the team.
"Let's see if Lucas and Tchouameni can recover. If not, we will make decisions."
Jude Bellingham netted Madrid's other goal as Ancelotti's team closed to within four points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona, who drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Madrid also have a game in hand on Hansi Flick's side.
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