Paul Simpson spoke to us after 2024 began with victory over Port Vale.
"It's a fantastic start to get the three points we so desperately wanted and so desperately needed, let's be honest," he said.
"I'm so pleased for everybody who's turned up to see it. I think they could see, even in the first half, that there was a real desire to go and get a result out of it and we just lacked that little finish at the end of it.
"We had some good opportunities and then when you go a goal down I just had that feeling it was going to be one of those again.
"But they stuck to it, showed real character and some good quality to get the goals.
"I'm absolutely delighted for everyone involved. I believe it's the first win since the Piatak's took over, certainly the first league win, and I'm so pleased for them.
"They've come in like a breath of fresh air with so much enthusiasm and so many things they want to make better.
"Everybody's talking and we know that the squad needs to be improved and January gives us that chance, but all of the other little things - today, getting that victory is a reward for them before they go back in the next few days."
Equally as pleasing as the three points was the manner of the victory, with United creative and determined throughout.
Simpson added: "We've played some good football and I've just said to the players there that over the run of results we've had, I don't think we deserved a 5-1 at Reading.
"I'm not saying we deserved to win it, but the performance in the two halves wasn't a 5-1 defeat. I think Cheltenham we deserved to lose, we didn't do enough. Northampton, I think we deserved more out of that game. I thought we deserved more out of the Fleetwood game. Wigan, second half, I thought we deserved something out of it.
"But it's been the story of us that we've not been able to go and take those chances. We needed to take a chance when it was 0-0 in the first half, we needed one of those to just drop for us and they didn't.
"But I'm so pleased with the character of everybody, the way they've stuck at it and the way they've continued to play their football - backed by a really loud home support again. We've had the reward with a really valuable three points."
A key factor in the win was the Blues' determination to dig in and defend when required too, with the defensive unit drawing praise from Simpson post-match.
"You have to do the ugly side of the game and defend," he said.
"I think of the three games Gabe Breeze has played for us, the bits he's done he's been really comfortable and he's looked calm. The way we've defended in front of him he hasn't had loads to do.
"I think he had one extra save to make at Wigan, I can't think of many difficult things he's had to do. He's come and took crosses, he's punched and as a team we're defending really well in front of him so I'm pleased with that."
Speaking on the late Jon Mellish goal that won the game, Simpson said: "It's a really good delivery.
"I think we've had some really good deliveries. There was a free-kick on the far side in the first half that Sam Lavelle just couldn't quite get a finish on, some of the corners we had good delivery going in whether it was from Gibbo or Jack Robinson.
"I think it's a really big skill to be able to deliver a set piece when you know the pressure is on and you're trying to get a victory.
"I'm so pleased that Mells has got on the end of it because I think he's done really well recently. I think he feels more settled playing at centre back."
And the United boss reserved special praise for the vocal support who backed the side throughout.
"The fans were magnificent.
"When I came out and I saw the Paddock, I could see the bulk of the East Stand was full, and the Warwick Road End are always making that noise.
"Credit to Port Vale as well, but that's a reward. They've stuck with us and it's difficult, we're in a difficult situation because of the things that went on in the summer and the takeover taking so long, but we're giving it our best shot.
"I can only assure people we're trying everything to get them results, to give them something to cheer and enjoy, and hopefully this is the first of many more."