Boss Roy Keane was pleased with the 2-1 victory over Reading but felt his side ought to have added to their lead during the second half.
Keane said: "It was a decent win for us. We should have done better when we were two up with the extra man, but we'll take the victory.
"It would have been nice if we'd got the third goal to kill the game off and we should have been a bit more clinical but there you go. We're not quite at that level yet but hopefully we'll get there.
"I'm pleased with the performance though and the hard work the players put in. The first goal was always important, especially the way the Reading started. They caused us problems, even when they were down to 10 men.”
Keane admitted that he was surprised to see referee Keith Stroud issue Reading’s Matt Mills with a red card: "My first thought when I saw the lad's challenge was that it was a yellow card. There was an element of a surprise when it was a red but if you go in with studs raised then there is always a risk.
"It would have been nice to have got that third goal and not have the nervy ending but we're happy with the victory and it sets us up for Derby on Monday."
Reading boss Brian McDermott was inevitably unhappy with the red card and will launch an appeal: "I've watched it five or six times in slow motion and at worst it was a yellow card.
"If we start taking tackles like that out of our game it'll be a sorry state of affairs. Millsy actually got the ball and when the referee sees it again I'm sure he'll agree. I'm sure it'll be rescinded.
"It was a tough tackle but a good tackle and nothing malicious. There was no intent and it was a fair tackle by both parties.
"He got all the ball and the guy who scored was his man, so it was obviously important and the key moment in the game.
"The two goals before half-time hurt us but we came out strong and I felt we could have nicked something. We needed to score five minutes earlier and if we'd done that it might have been different."