Manager Micky Mellon was pleased with the battle his team showed after Rovers winning streak stretched to three games following a 1-0 away triumph against Exeter City.
James Norwood’s 25th strike this term fired TRFC to victory against his former side. His deflected effort in the first half proved to be the difference between the teams at St James Park.
The boss was pleased with how his troops worked hard to secure the point against a fellow Play-Off chasing outfit.
He said: “Like we say all the time, every game is different and what it asks of you you’ve got to be good at it, and whether that be defending your own 18-yard box and winning headers or your goalkeeper making saves, that’s what football’s all about.
“You never get two games that are going to be similar, so that’s what it was asking us today and the boys battled, battled and battled and it’s a massive and terrific three points.”
After a superb first half display that could have seen Rovers rack up more goals, the hosts made a few tactical alterations to try and get some control in the game. Despite this, the Scot was full of admiration for the desire shown from his side.
“It was a different game in the first half. I think, fairly, we would have to say that we could have been a few more up and then they sort of played with the two centre backs trying to get some control in the game and pushed the two full backs really, really high and tried to stretch us.”
He added: “Then everybody else inside that trying to get little overloads in there and to be fair to them they did it well. What we did well is we stuck at it and hung in there. We could have been better when we won it back if we’re going to be critical about ourselves and want to improve.
“On the turnovers I think we’ve probably gone too quickly to Norwood which is understandable because he’s such a threat on the counter, but maybe we could have made another pass now and again, but in terms of guts and determination and like I say every week what the games asking you, we couldn’t fault them.”
The only goal of the contest was a result of great play by Mark Ellis, the type of pass the boss is willing his defenders to play more often.
“We’ve been encouraging the centre backs to do that, what we call risky passes and not playing safe all the time. Mark has got that in his locker, it’s a fantastic pass to split the defence wide open, great run from Nors (Norwood), makes his mind up and it obviously takes a deflection but we’re delighted to see it go in.”
The support from the Super White Army on the road also didn’t go unnoticed from Mellon.
“You have to acknowledge the fans as well. How far away are we away from home? And the support we got was absolutely second to none.”
He concluded: “I doubt there will be support like that here again this season, they were fantastic from minute one.
“They again knew that we needed them to get right behind us again, so delighted that they did that, and delighted they can go up the road now and have a good weekend.”
To watch Micky's full interview, please click here.