Kevin Blackwell insisted that James Harper should be credited with United's winner at Plymouth, and paid tribute to his side's combative qualities following the rain-soaked tussle at Home Park.

The United boss dismissed claims that debutant Toni Kallio had given Harper's shot a telling deflection and instead dwelt on the spirit needed to quell a stern double challenge - from the home team and the squally weather:

"The weather was absolutely awful with the wind blowing in different directions in different areas of the pitch, and the lads commented after the warm-up on how heavy the pitch was.

"We warned the lads beforehand that Paul Sturrock would send his team out to be quick, strong and aggressive because they wanted to put things right after last week.

"They were very tenacious and we needed to be dogged, particularly in defence where we were superb because throughout the team we stayed focussed.

"We were building pressure towards the end and their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves, but it is so important to keep clean sheets when games are tight and a goal either way can be decisive.

"The lads were thoroughly professional given the conditions and the opposition. It was a real battle and sometimes you just have to win ugly and take 1-0 wins, get on the bus with the points and get home."