Nigel Pearson says the foundation to Bristol City's run of form has been a catalyst of hard work and togetherness after the Robins' fine form continued with a 2-1 victory at Preston.
First half goals from Mark Sykes and Sam Bell proved enough to stretch the unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions and a first win at Deepdale in 11 years.
Sykes grabbed his fourth goal in five games after six minutes when he capitalised on Robbie Brady's poor backpass before rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net. The visitors doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time with a sensational piece of counter-attacking play.
Alex Scott picked the ball up from deep, turned and threaded a pass through to Nahki Wells down the right touchline. His cross found Bell at the back post to grab his fourth in four games.
Max O'Leary kept City ahead with a string of really great saves but made one error in the second period when he fumbled a long-range effort into the feet of Ched Evans. The visitors had to throw bodies on the line and defended with real resilience to hold onto the points that lifted them nine points above the drop zone.
"I was just really pleased with the collective effort today and the desire to keep the ball out of the net because they put us under lots of pressure in the second half," Pearson said after the game.
"We needed to be up for the battle. There were a lot of aerial balls to be won and we defended really well from set-plays. It was a good collective effort in terms of trying to win a game that was very scruffy.
"It was good anticipation from Mark Sykes and a good ball from Kal Naismith (for the opener) and Robbie Brady thought he had time to play it back.
"The second one was an excellent piece of skill by Alex Scott and our strikers doing what they are very good at and that is pouncing on an opportunity to counter."
Pearson recognised the change of form and fortunes following the West Brom defeat on Boxing Day after a section of supporters called for his departure inside a hostile Ashton Gate. They followed that up with two dogged draws away to Coventry and Millwall which provided the foundation for their run of form.
"The draws that we've had have been very important the cup wins have given players confidence too," Pearson said. "We try and build some momentum and negative momentum is difficult to shake off, positive momentum is really hard to build.
"The foundation is hard work and togetherness because when you get criticism, it's never easy to take but it's always easier to bear when you share it. We can work together to turn it around and that will never change.
"Everybody comes under pressure at some point but I think what the players have shown is a belief in each other to just keep performing. For the time being, things are going well but we've got difficult games coming up now so the challenge is to just keep that going."
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