Sekhukhune United coach Brandon Truter praised his charges for grinding out a win over Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
Babina Noko bagged a narrow victory over the Amakhosi with an early finish from Sammy Seabi and ended the Soweto giants run of seven matches without defeat in all competitions.
As the win boost the host top eight ambitions, the set-back dents the Glamour Boys chances to land a second-place finish come the end of the season.
Read | Sekhukhune complete the double over Chiefs
"What a shift second half. I think we started well, exactly how we planned. For us this moment, just we didn't possess the ball that much but at the same time without the ball you control the opponent," Truter told SuperSport TV.
"You allow them where you want them to play and once it came to that we tried to win it, but we also stifled their supply into our penalty area.
"They brought on the big boys in Caleb (Bimenyimana) and them and we had to react to that because we had a lead to protect at that moment, but I'm so happy for the boys.
"It's still work in progress, it's six points off Chiefs now for this season and minus the AmaZulu result so that's seven points now for me this season, and then we look forward.
"For me, the tactical flexibility to strengthen our team that's what counts for me so I'm happy with what I saw. We can grind out the results, at 1-0 you must be very careful.
"Sekhukhune can still maintain the lead, we scored so early and still managed to maintain that 1-0 lead so well done to the boys it was a massive shift. It wasn't easy at all, but it was what we expected of Chiefs," he added.