Widnes manager Dave Dempsey was concerned that it got a little too close for comfort against Newcastle Town but was delighted with the showing.
Dempsey’s side let a three-goal slip as the hosts clawed their way back into the match.
Alex McMillan scored the winner, his second of the game, late on but the Widnes boss felt there was only going to be one winner after Newcastle restored parity with eight minutes left.
The win takes them further away from the drop in terms of points but not league position although, they still have a number of games in hand which Dempsey is confident of adding to his tally.
“Extremely close to comfort to start off with, we didn’t make it easy for ourselves, if we did I’d be worried,” he told Off The Park.
“We had a very very good first half, probably the best I’ve seen us since coming in, said to the players at half-time to keep the intensity, the press, the tempo everything we were doing right in the first half don’t drop standard.
“It was one of those days, I think Newcastle nullified our threat in the second half and we’ve gone back to our comfort zone but credit to them they had another gear in them when it went to 3-3 there was only one team that was going to win for me. We managed to get a scruff of the game and got the decisive goal so really happy on the whole, a much needed three points.
“It was [a worry] considering how comfortable we were in the first half, it’s a little bit alarming we can go from playing one brand of football and looking dangerous to then not to in the second half and making the wrong decisions in the game.
“As I’ve said, I always take positives from things and scored another four goals away from home, massive three points and the goals scored were relatively well worked.”
McMillan was the match-winner for Widnes with his brace and since his move from Prescot Cables has hit the ground running.
A tactical tweak has saw the forward amongst the goals and the relegation-threatened side reap the rewards as they eye distancing themselves away from the drop.
He added: “We’ve changed his role a little since he’s come in. Prescot were playing him in wide areas and I don’t see him as a winger.
“He’s come in and scored six in maybe seven or eight games, playing him in the nine or the 10, in central areas, he’s just really clever.
“He bounces off the lads behind him as well, he gives you that workrate and tenacity off the press but in the same token, he’s got a touch like a cushion and he’s getting his rewards with his goal tally creeping up.
“We’ve got a figure we want him to get at and he’s almost there so I’m made up with Macca as an individual he’s come in and done very well.”
With the point between themselves and rivals Prescot Cables at six points, Dempsey is confident but not shying away from the possibility of a push from those behind them.
“I think everything’s in our hands in football, you can only field the team and results, we’ve got Market Drayton in a game in hand and I think City of Liverpool was the other one. I know Ello, they’re a good side, they’re a side we’re looking that maybe we can get something from and we’ve still got to play them twice.
“I’ve never been worried about the bottom because I know what we’ve got from the side, we’re still not away from them, footballs a funny old game. Market Drayton and Kendal have both got new manager’s, Prescot are making signings but things can change very, very quickly.
“We just need to take our season game-by-game, see how far we can go.
“Every game against top sides has been close with one goal in six games against the top sides but if you look at the form table we’re above Trafford.
“We’ve got nine points in about six games, think they’ve got eight. Everyone beats everyone in this league, you are capable on your day of causing upsets and that’s shown we’ve very nearly caused a few just been on the wrong end of the result. I’m confident, optimistic we’ll go give Trafford a good old game and see what we can get.”
[Featured image: 617 Photography]
