Pressley so proud of Grant's passion

Grant’s 21st-minute thunderbolt rocketed in off the bar and Devante Cole sealed the deal three minutes later as Town beat Crewe 2-0 at Highbury to maintain their League One status, and relegate Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool.

Grant was dropped for last Monday’s 3-1 defeat at Walsall but responded in brilliant fashion as he sprinted over to the touchline to celebrate with his manager.

Pressley said: “That (goal) is why I love Bobby and that is why we have that love-hate relationship.

“Bobby will tell you what a great relationship we have and he understands the boundaries. He is an emotional player and I like that.

“I’m really pleased for him. He came out and had the bit between the teeth and he scored a wonderful goal.”

Pressley also praised Cole who also returned to the starting 11, with Antoni Sarcevic absent due to a thigh injury.

He said: “Devante could have had several more but I think the great thing was he missed an opportunity right in front of goal a minute or so before he scored. The real sign of a good striker is once you miss to go back in to those areas again and be prepared to miss again. He got his just rewards.”

Pressley thanked the fans for their support as when news trickled through that Blackpool had taken the lead at Peterborough.

The Cod Army reacted by singing, chanting and urging on their team.

And Presley says he is already looking ahead to next term. He said: “Today wasn’t about me. It was about this football club and we have a platform to build on for next season.

“There has been so much investment in the infrastructure. The club has moved forward year on year and it was vital that we stayed in this league.

“This is not something I want to endure again. It has been the hardest couple of weeks I have experienced as a football manager.

“The pressure to gain promotion is nothing in comparison to the pressure that you face at the bottom end, and my players showed wonderful mentality to see the job through. It was a really tough afternoon but I thought our supporters were brilliant.

“The response from our supporters when the news came through that Blackpool had taken the lead was fantastic. It was inspirational and we went on and scored.

“I asked the supporters too drive their players on and they certainly did that.”

Pressley says lessons must be learned from this season. He said: “A remit of mine was to keep us in the league. We have managed that. It was an emotional day.

“This has got to be motivation for ourselves moving forward. We have to improve on many aspects.

“But first I think everybody within the ground deserves a nice glass of beer and some chill time.”