Pat Howard said Leicester Tigers were "back on track" after a 27-22 defeat of NEC Harlequins at Welford Road on Saturday.
Tries from Seru Rabeni and Dan Hipkiss, plus 17 points from fit-again fly-half Andy Goode secured the win over Dean Richards' Quins side who went into the game as the form team in the Guinness Premiership.
Howard acknowledged that Tigers did not get enough possession to launch their attacking game in the first half, but came through after the restart to claim the victory.
"It was nice to get back on track after such a disappointing result last week," Howard said. "It was not all that convincing, but also give respect to Harlequins. They are a good side, they have had a few good wins and Dean is doing a good job there.
"We did not touch the ball for the first 35 minutes. In the lineout and, to a certain extent, at the kick-offs we got done. Our defence was very strong in the first half and to come out of that 9-6 ahead was a pretty mean effort from the guys.
"Once we got the ball, we looked quite dangerous. In the first half, from the occasions he got the ball I thought Geordan Murphy made some in-roads, but we had to play off scraps. In the second half I thought we played pretty well."
Fly-half Goode returned from a hamstring injury to kick five penalties and a conversion to maintain daylight between the two sides.
"Andy was always going to need to kick well today," Howard said. "Dean has a side that is playing very well, based on doing the basics right, fighting hard and kicking their goals. I was glad to see Andy kicked his goals.
"You want guys to put down that sort of performance and say 'This is my position'. The competition is on."
With Tigers ahead by just three points at the break, Howard introduced Martin Corry and George Chuter for the restart, and they played their part in securing the victory.
"We obviously had a strong bench so the guys on the paddock have to keep performing and I was happy that they battled it out, they got some momentum and then, when we had the chance, we used a few of the other guys," Howard added.
Tries from Seru Rabeni and Dan Hipkiss, plus 17 points from fit-again fly-half Andy Goode secured the win over Dean Richards' Quins side who went into the game as the form team in the Guinness Premiership.
Howard acknowledged that Tigers did not get enough possession to launch their attacking game in the first half, but came through after the restart to claim the victory.
"It was nice to get back on track after such a disappointing result last week," Howard said. "It was not all that convincing, but also give respect to Harlequins. They are a good side, they have had a few good wins and Dean is doing a good job there.
"We did not touch the ball for the first 35 minutes. In the lineout and, to a certain extent, at the kick-offs we got done. Our defence was very strong in the first half and to come out of that 9-6 ahead was a pretty mean effort from the guys.
"Once we got the ball, we looked quite dangerous. In the first half, from the occasions he got the ball I thought Geordan Murphy made some in-roads, but we had to play off scraps. In the second half I thought we played pretty well."
Fly-half Goode returned from a hamstring injury to kick five penalties and a conversion to maintain daylight between the two sides.
"Andy was always going to need to kick well today," Howard said. "Dean has a side that is playing very well, based on doing the basics right, fighting hard and kicking their goals. I was glad to see Andy kicked his goals.
"You want guys to put down that sort of performance and say 'This is my position'. The competition is on."
With Tigers ahead by just three points at the break, Howard introduced Martin Corry and George Chuter for the restart, and they played their part in securing the victory.
"We obviously had a strong bench so the guys on the paddock have to keep performing and I was happy that they battled it out, they got some momentum and then, when we had the chance, we used a few of the other guys," Howard added.
