Unai Emery was proud of both players and supporters after Aston Villa came away from Brighton with all three points.
The Seagulls were seen off 2-1 thanks to a brace from Danny Ings as the club won a Premier League away game for the first time this season.
Emery was delighted with the support from a boisterous away end, believing it helped his players to perform.
“I’m so proud of our supporters because they are very important for us,” he said.
“We can transmit our energy and our job but we needed them to support and help us. We can be proud of them.
“These three points are helping in the table. We have 18 points and we can be happy.”
The result was even more impressive given Emery was unable to call on Ollie Watkins due to illness, with Leon Bailey also reduced to a cameo.
Ings stepped up in his fellow forward’s absence, capitalising on tactical tweaks to suit his style.
He said: “We were a little bit worried yesterday because two players, Ollie and Leon, were sick. Today, Leon was better and he helped us on the pitch.
“Very, very good work from Danny Ings. We changed our shape a little bit with him because I was thinking his best position is between the two centre-backs.
“We needed good passes and assists to him, and I think if we could do it, we would help Danny to give his best performance.”
After two wins from his first two league games in charge, Emery and his squad will now head into the World Cup break feeling positive.
“It’s the first two steps. We also played against Manchester United away and that was our first big challenge: to play away from home and try to win," he said.
“We made that step today, and I think the break will help us to be positive and rest a little bit.
“We will enjoy the time over the World Cup. We have one month to work and solve some tactical and individual issues.
“We will try to build and create our way.”
