This one is for the fans – Johnson

WHAT A RELIEF . . . manager Lee Johnson celebrates “ a satisfying victory for everyone.”

Athletic manager Lee Johnson's face was white after a battering by the cold air of Fleetwood, but his team’s performance put a glow in his heart.

Superb second-half goals from Carl Winchester and Mike Jones handed Athletic a first league victory since last year's 3-0 win at Rochdale.

“It was very satisfying for everyone,” said Johnson. “We really wanted to gift the fans a win, as we said.

“You are never the same until you win again and when that final whistle went, there was that sense of relief and happy feeling.

“Everybody played their part. Liam Kelly was a man-mountain and he hates losing. He has a deep desire to win every ball and every tackle and he led by example.

“Carl Winchester produced a fantastic finish and was excellent, nice and smooth on the ball.”

Johnson felt Athletic had done well to establish a solid base before their second-half blitz, in cold and windy conditions on the Fylde coast.

And he was particularly pleased with the two goals: “It was a good bit of play,” Johnson said of Winchester's 20-yard strike.

“With Mike Jones's free-kick, if you beat the wall then you have a good chance.

“Take nothing away from him, it was a great finish.”