Carlisle United defender Ryan Galvin praised the Blues' mentality after nine-man United ended Harrogate Town's seven-game unbeaten run with a 3-0 victory at Brunton Park.
Josh Williams fired the Cumbrians into an early lead before referee Jamie Robinson dismissed Miguel Azeez and Harvey Bunker but the Blues rallied and goals from Callum Whelan and Galvin saw United extend their unbeaten run to six games.
Galvin stressed the absurdity of the game he came into when United Head Coach Rob Elliot summoned him in the 57th minute.
"It was just a mad game to come on to, obviously, with the two red cards. You're coming on, you're just trying to kick the ball away from our goal, really.
"There's no real game plan. It's just how much do you want it? How much do you not want to let them score, really?"
The 25-year-old pinpointed the enormity of the task that the Blues were faced with when Harvey Bunker's dismissal in the 30th minute left United with two men less than the visitors.
"I mean, it might sound weird, but it was quite an enjoyable game to play in.
"You just stick with the lads, you stick together and then you're just celebrating every little block, every tackle. I think it brings you all closer together, those sort of games.
"And then when you win and you come out the other end of it, you're buzzing even more and you know there's nothing really that's going to be more mentally testing than that sort of game."
Galvin alluded to the fact that United hadn't got off to the ideal start to their Enterprise National League campaign but highlighted that results like this show the group's quality.
"We've had a bit of a tough start at the start of the season and then now, if you're coming through a game like that, it doesn't really get much tougher, does it? Against a good team who are, I think second in the league.
"So I think it shows that we've had a poor start, but we're definitely one of the best teams in the league, for sure. And we've beaten them with nine men."
Galvin added the Blues' third of the evening with a burst from his own half before he managed to dispatch the ball at the second time of asking into the back of Luke Hutchinson's net.
"I think [Teddy] Jenks had it and I was like, oh, I'm off, I'm gone and I knew he [Ellis Taylor] wasn't catching me.
"But then from my first touch, I was like, I've got a whole half to think about. I probably had too much time to think about it and then [a] rubbish finish and then it just luckily went over [Luke Hutchinson] and then [I] just saw everyone running, I was just buzzing."
The United defender emphasised the mentality of the squad to see the game out and secure the three points.
"I don't think you needed to be up for it because you're already up for it with the fans, everyone sticking together sort of thing. But it wasn't anything tactical. It's all mental, like how much do you not want to concede?
"Because I didn't see the second goal, I was inside getting ready to come on. But once you go two, you just got to see out the game. Then luckily I got the third and then it's just, you've got to work hard and stop crosses."
Galvin also praised the Blues' faithful for inspiring the Cumbrians' victory over Harrogate Town.
"You could feel it, like even if you're just winning a header, you knew you could feel the support behind you.
"Then at the end, you can see the appreciation for the efforts that everyone put in. I only played half an hour and I was knackered. So the lads who played 90 must be even worse now."
Finally, Galvin touched on the belief that the squad can take from overcoming adversity in Wednesday night's win.
"You're never going to get a tougher test than that with nine men on a pitch against second in the league.
"So I don't think there's any real situations that will test you more mentally, so then you've got to have the belief that we can beat anyone going into every game now."