The first half was a war of attrition. They had more possession, but we had more bite. They tried to play through us, but we wouldn't let them. They tried to go around us, but we were too well-organized. They tried to go over us, but Big Dave was unbeatable in the air.
We created very few chances. A couple of half-chances from set-pieces, a long-range shot from Scott that flew over the bar. But we didn't care. We were not here to entertain. We were here to win. And we knew that in a tight, ugly game like this, one goal would be enough.
At halftime, we were still 0-0. The players were exhausted, but their eyes were bright. They could feel it. They were winning the battle. "Keep going," I told them. "Keep fighting. The goal will come."
That goal came in the 72nd minute. It was a goal that was a perfect embodiment of our new philosophy. It was not a goal of individual brilliance. It was a goal of collective effort, of sheer, bloody-minded persistence.
