Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Sean McAuley praised the mental fortitude of his players after they secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against QPR.
The match was played out against a backdrop of unrest in the stands as supporters made clear their anger at the sacking of Paul Sturrock on Thursday.
Owls chairman Dave Allen was the target of sustained abuse and around 300 fans staged a protest outside outside Hillsborough both before and after the game.
"To come back like they have done showed a lot of mental strength and character," said McAuley after Wednesday hit back to claim victory having earlier seen their 2-0 first-half lead wiped out.
"The feeling in the camp is that the performance of today overshadows that of Wednesday night (a 4-0 loss at Colchester) and the players are absolutely delighted with to get the three points.
"We've got to remember what happened on Wednesday night with the players, but they showed good mental strength today.
"When someone scores two goals in quick succession like QPR did, that can harm you but they had belief in themselves and pushed on for the win."
Marcus Tudgay's brace put the Owls 2-0 ahead at the break but Dexter Blackstock proved equally clinical with two goals in four minutes shortly after the break to draw QPR level.
However, substitute Steve MacLean held his nerve in the 70th minute to fire home from the penalty spot and hand Wednesday only their third win of the season.
McAuley, the club's academy manager who has been placed in temporary charge until Sturrock's successor has been appointed, reserved special praise for Tudgay.
He added: "He formed a good relationship with Deon Burton until Burton went off injured with a calf strain and then he did likewise with MacLean.
"That can only bode well for the future of the club."
Sturrock had led the Owls to promotion, kept them in the Championship on a limited budget last season, and had seen his squad decimated by injury this term.
But, despite being handed a new contract only last month, Allen swung the axe following the humiliating defeat at Colchester .
Supporters constantly chanted for the removal of Allen against Rangers, but McAuley said diplomatically: "I'm not interested in talking about that, because after what happened on Wednesday night, the players need to take the credit for this win and that's what we should focus on."
MacLean earned the penalty which he converted to give Wednesday victory - but Rangers boss John Gregory was not convinced goalkeeper Paul Jones had touched the striker.
"Jonah said he didn't think it was a penalty," he said.
"He felt he got a foot on the ball and two or three of the defending players all said the same.
"But we gave the ball way in the middle of midfield and you can't do that against anybody.
"To lose the game in that manner was disappointing and we threw everything at them in the end - but we just couldn't that equaliser."
Gregory also accused Wednesday's players of failing to give 100% in previous games under Sturrock.
"I think they have been selling their previous manager short if they can put in that sort of performance today," he claimed.
"Paul Sturrock must sit there and feel a little bit aggrieved because those boys today gave everything for the cause.
"Marcus Tudgay, who I know from my time at Derby, was a real handful and took his two goals very well."