Cambuslang Rangers co-bosses Billy Campbell and Paul McColl reckoned an early red card for Newmains was more a hindrance than a help in their latest victory.
The Somervell Park side took until the second half to get motoring after Dominic Cherrie's seventh minute red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity changed both sides' gameplans early on.
John Gemmell was at the double, while a Scott Anson header and a Jay Nelson volley delivered a 15th win of the season for the West of Scotland League Conference B leaders.
But there wasn't the usual fluid football from the hosts, who scored three of their goals after a tactical tweak at the break enabled them to exploit gaps in the visitors' defence.
Newmains had lost 11-0 to Thorniewood last week and a visit to the league leaders would have had them fearing a repeat or worse, but the visitors should some encouraging signs of improvement.
Campbell and McColl weren't blown away by their sides' display, but they were happy to keep their four-point lead over St Cadoc's at the top of the table intact.
Campbell said: "When the red card happen we all hung our heads, to be honest.
"Most folk think it's an advantage, but more often than not it isn't because everybody thinks that's job done and they stop doing the jobs they were doing well every other week.
"And that's actually what happened; we stopped stringing passes together and I don't think we had a good phase of play in the first half, if we are being honest.
"We made a change at half-time with regards to our structure to give us a bit more room, and we played a bit better in the second half.
"We deserved to win the game and played relatively well, but not as good as we could be.
"Newmains struggled last week because they had five players missing and they had some new players in this week. They worked really hard and nobody has got a divine right to win a football match.
"We weren't great but we'll take a 4-0 win."
McColl added: "We said before the game we'd take a 1-0.
"It could have been a tricky game for us when they've had a man sent off and they've just been scudded the week before.
"The park was a bit of a leveller because it was a bit bumpy today, but we got over that and won the game.
"We could play better, we should have had a few more goals, but it's another three points and a step closer to achieving something this season.
"We are going up the road happy and we'll go out tonight."
Cherrie saw red when he hacked down Scott Williamson just outside the box as he honed in on goal.
But McColl reckoned his side's fitness proved the key in the end.
He added: "He [Cherrie] didn't give the ref much of a choice, but I think it helped them a bit because they sat in and defended.
"But we've been working hard on our fitness. They ran out of steam at the end and our fitness told again.
"A lot of games we win in the second half because we are fit."
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