Shrewsbury Town manager Micky Mellon admitted the result was all that mattered for his Sky Bet League 2 promotion-chasers at Mansfield Town.
A 1-0 win in Monday's early kick-off saw the Shrews take over at the top of the Sky Bet League 2 table but Burton Albion returned to the summit after beating Wycombe Wanderers by the same scoreline in a 3pm kick-off.Mellon's men were made to work hard for their narrow victory at Field Mill, which was sealed when Mark Ellis’ cross took a deflection over goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley and half-time substitute Tyrone Barnett made sure it went in from almost on the line.
It was a fifth straight win for the Shrews but a fourth defeat on the bounce leaves the Stags in the relegation battle.
Mellon said: "People can get carried away sometimes and not understand what football is all about.
"At this time of the season that was what it is all about. You need guts and you need character. You have to defend your 18-yard box. We had so many free-kicks come in and we defended them. That was massive.
"You have to stand your ground and fight and win the knock-downs.
"That was probably the story of the game. We answered the questions that this game asked of us and we scored a goal.
"Not a coach in the world can do anything about that many free-kicks coming into your box with four or five 6ft 3ins guys there to get on the end of them. You just have to get on the end of them - and we did.
"The boys protected the keeper superbly well and we have come out of it with an unbelievable result and a clean sheet."