Alan Curbishley could not hide his elation after West Ham United once again showed their tremendous form with a superb 1-0 triumph against Liverpool.
It was the first time in 12 meetings that the club had got the better of the Reds, and the manager had plenty of words of praise for the way his team - from Robert Green at the back to Carlton Cole in attack - stuck to the task before deservedly taking the points with a late Mark Noble penalty. Although Pepe Reina dived the right way in the Liverpool goal, the shot arrowed into the corner of the net to send the Boleyn Ground wild.
"It was a fantastic result for us," he said. "We have had to keep it tight, work ever so hard. Everybody played their part, Greeny made the saves when he needed to and the back four once again have stood really firm. We've got a terrific defensive record and we needed it. I am delighted for the players.
"It was mentioned yesterday that West Ham have had a turbulent record against Liverpool. I wasn't fully aware of it. As they have shown all season, they gave everything. We are chopping and changing a lot of the time but they have given everything. It is nice when you get the result in the last minute and we will take it."
Talking about the penalty that won it, he said he left it up to the players to decide who was going to take the responsibility. "Reina's good on penalties and I saw Dean Ashton walking towards it as well. Mark took the one at the Birmingham, while Deano was the penalty taker last year but Mark took it and put it on the spot. He was confident I think but you have to ask him how confident."
The manager added his only concern after the goal went in was that Noble did not pick up his fifth yellow card of the season for an over-zealous celebration - which would have meant a one-match ban. He was also concerned that the referee did not add extra time. As it was, the final whistle blew seconds after the restart and Curbishley was able to keep on looking upwards.
"We have got to keep the run going," he said, already thinking about Saturday's trip to Wigan Athletic." We have had to use everything we have got. We have had players playing out of position, we have had to change things during the game and perhaps put people in unfamiliar places. They have shown great character. I think West Ham fans should be looking at them and saying what they are producing is fantastic - a great attitude."
As well as Nolberto Solano's return as an unused substitute, the manager confirmed that Julien Faubert, Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora are all close. "Bellamy and Zamora are in full training, Faubert is back in training - so we have got one two of them perhaps who are looking as if they are going to be back in the next couple of weeks. We will have to see."
The manager had a word for Luis Boa Morte who gave his all as he continues his return from hamstring trouble while he explained why he had to take Carlton Cole off late in the game. "It wasn't popular because people think that it is a forward coming off but Steven Gerrard was running riot and I had to do something about it. I put Jon [Spector] on there to try and stop that and he did. Sometimes you have to do things in games that perhaps people don't see but we have to do it."
The ends justify the means and with Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and, of course, Liverpool, all dropping points this week - the club are within striking distance of the European places. "We are delighted. It means that we are looking straight at the two teams above us now. Let's see if we can improve on it next week. I am only concerned about us. We should be proud of what they have achieved so far."