Alex Bruce happy as Salford beat Harrogate but says ‘it certainly wasn’t pretty’

Salford assistant manager Alex Bruce admitted it was not pretty but he was delighted with their 1-0 win at home to Harrogate.

The game, settled by Daniel Udoh’s 75th-minute penalty, was far from a Boxing Day classic but Bruce, in charge with boss Karl Robinson struck down by the flu, was happy to take the points.

“It certainly wasn’t pretty, was it?” he said. “I’ve just said to the lads, sometimes over the course of a season, when things are against you, like a few illnesses and injuries and the pitch not being at its best, there were a lot of circumstances today which could be a potential banana skin.

“And they found a way of winning, which they’ve done in recent weeks and over the course of the season.

“I’d heard we’d been labelled the entertainers in the last few weeks with some of the goals that we’re scoring, but I don’t think we’re the entertainers today.

“If I’m being brutally honest, it wasn’t one for the supporters in terms of a spectacle, but the lads dug in, defended well and kept a clean sheet, which I’m pleased with.

“I think we shaded it. I’m just pleased we’ve got the three points.

“I spoke to Karl a couple of times but he must be struggling because he didn’t ring me as much as I thought – I was expecting 60 or 70 calls during that game, I only had five or six.

“I’ve got a few more grey hairs now but I enjoyed it.”

For Harrogate their rotten run of form continued. And boss Simon Weaver tried to remain upbeat, despite them having no league wins since September.

“I thought it was a very solid performance from us,” he said. “For the large part, I thought we deserved something from the game. We’ve been good away from home for the last four games, and it’s a good trait to have.

“We showed all the correct desire and the correct approach in terms of the percentage game and we were grinding it out. But we went off the boil for 10 minutes before they scored. I thought their changes invigorated them, they were able to add pace to the midfield and it made it harder to preserve that clean sheet. They’re blessed with that luxury in all areas.

“We’re stretched right now, so it’s difficult. A few were flagging around that 70-minute mark and it cost us a penalty, where we only have ourselves to blame for not kicking the ball out for a corner.

“We’d like to have a bit more in the final third and the attitude and application that’s required at this level to bring back at least a point.

“We need some players back so it’s a trying time, but I refuse to be drawn into victim or depression mode.”