Lawrence Vigouroux was full of praise for his defence in the wake of Town’s 0-0 draw away at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Lining-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a makeshift defence came up trumps for the Reds who produced a real battling display to secure a fifth point in their last three away games.
Conor Thomas excelled in an unfamiliar role at the heart of the defence alongside Nathan Thompson, while both James Brophy and Darnell Furlong were required to carry out more defensive duties than normal.
And the foursome’s impressive displays to keep an in-form AFC Wimbledon side at bay earned plenty of kind words from Vigouroux, who enjoyed a superb game himself to secure a fourth clean sheet of the season.
“We always knew it was going to be a tough game because they are a tough team who like to get set-pieces and like to get balls into the box, so we knew that coming into the game,” Vigouroux reflected.
“We defended brilliantly and Conor Thomas was outstanding playing in an unfamiliar position and Nathan Thompson, as always, was absolutely brilliant.
“It makes it easier for me because I know I’ve got two good individuals in-front of me who help, and credit to James Brophy and Darnell Furlong as well.
“I think we worked really well as a unit.
“It was a tough place, a tough game and I’m personally happy and I’m sure everyone else is happy that we’ve come away from here with a clean sheet and a point.
“We showed that we can stand there and be counted when another team wants to play in a direct style. We defended really well and we’ve shown there that we have the ability to handle it and we’ve got a clean sheet at a tough place.”
Vigouroux produced a superb save to keep out Lyle Taylor’s first-half penalty, which arrived in controversial circumstances after Tom Elliott went down inside the area under very little contact from Conor Thomas.
“You have to respect the referee’s decision. It wasn’t a poor decision because it was in the heat of the moment and he’s only got a split decision to make the call,” he added.
“It is what it is and it is good we came away from there with a point.
“I’ve been unlucky this season because I’ve gone the right way for most penalties and I’ve got hands and fingers on them and they haven’t been kept out, but I changed the way I stand in the goal on Saturday and it paid off, I got the rub of the green and we’ve come away from a tough place with a point.”
Finally, Vigouroux is determined to help Town improve their home form, starting with Tuesday’s game against in-form Rochdale at SN1.
“We’ve got to get three points at home very soon,” he said.
“I’m very happy that we’ve got a home game on Tuesday which will be tough again against an in-form side in Rochdale, so we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing and we’ve got a great manager who really, really helps us.
“We go home again on Tuesday and hopefully we can get the three points, which is what the fans deserve.
“We’ll do the best that we can on Tuesday and hopefully we can send the supporters home happy. They are a team in-form but runs have to end and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday.”
