Players showed ‘proper guts’ – Johnson

What a feeling?

“It was an unbelievable feeling – I think that may have been better than Man United! I was a bit down after the Luton game because I’ve been here four years now (as head coach) and I hate it when we don’t show the character and identity that they work to every day. To finish like that this evening makes me excited for the future and proud of the players."

Character

“It was proper guts from the lads. We felt we deserved to win, especially in the second half when I thought we were outstanding. In the first half we had to work hard – their diamond caused us a problem without doubt and in the second half we matched it up. I thought the lads showed proper character today. I asked for identity and said ‘listen boys, our identity has got to come out today' and no better was it summed up than the crowd roaring us on in the last couple of minutes."

Substitutions

"I knew it was one of those subs where I was going to get the pelters from the home faithful but you’ve got to be brave. It wasn’t a case of wanting to take Niclas off, I wanted to match them up and still have deliveries from our full-back areas and commit bodies and men forward. The chances before their goal proved that the substitutions paid off, even before the 98^th minute winner."

Crowd

“To be fair we had three good chances before their goal. I’m disappointed with the goal but it happens when you open the game up and it goes end to end. I got into a couple of them throughout the week after the Luton game. I thought Kasey was excellent when he came on and so was Fam in his attitude and Rodri as well and that lifted the crowd, which lifted the spirits and made players play and run forward and the only sour thing is the sending-off.”

City next take on Wigan Athletic at home on Sunday (1.30pm KO) with season card holders able to claim two mates' rates tickets at £10 each.

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