Graham Coughlan says Bristol Rovers' spirit is seeing them through games following another below-par performance against non-league Bromley in an FA Cup first round replay.
The Gas won the game 1-0 thanks to Jonson Clarke-Harris' early goal but they struggled to put passes together and were under pressure for large periods.
Rovers' recent performances have not set the world alight, but they are still proving hard to beat, and Coughlan credits this on the squad's desire to grind out results.
He said: "I'm seeing massive heart, I'm seeing massive desire, I'm seeing massive character.
"I'm seeing the boys going in the trenches week in, week out.
"You're not going to play well every game, we've not played well for maybe the last two or three games, but we've progressed through to the next round of both cups.
"I would take progress and into the next round of both cups over performances.
"Performances thus far have been very good and have got us a point outside the play-offs and into the next round of the EFL Trophy and got us into the next round of the FA Cup.
"We are getting there, slowly but surely. When we play well, we might not win a game, so let's just take the result, take the enjoyment and put a smile on our face.
"I think that's only the second time this club has got to the second round in I think 11 years, one of the reporters said before the first Bromley game."
Rovers now play Plymouth in the next round.
