Mark Yates praised his players for showing some steel to record their third straight home win against Rushden and Diamonds this afternoon.

Harriers made it three home wins, nine goals scored and three clean sheets at Aggborough during March thanks to Iyseden Christie's strike and Mark Creighton's header.

Speaking after the game, Manager Yates was delighted with the problems his players asked of their rivals from Northamptonshire.

"We put in a decent performance; we worked hard and competed for first and second balls," reflected Yates.

"We had the conviction to get the ball down and play, and we created a lot of chances and could and should have won by more; it was a pleasing display.

"Our last three home games have been particularly decent and the players were brave today - they wanted the win and they showed a bit of steel, we caused Rushden a lot of problems by getting things in the box from decent areas."

Creighton headed in to make it 2-0 just five minutes after the re-start today, after which Harriers could've perhaps been accused of taking their foot off the gas, if even subconsciously.

Yates admitted he would have liked a bigger margin of victory but had words of praise for the professionalism shown by his troops as they closed the game out.

"I felt we just came off it a bit and stopped asking questions about them in their box and I asked them to go and do more of the same and they did for parts of the second half, very well," Yates continued.

"I would have liked to have gone on and scored more but we had to be wary, and it had to be a professional performance and there was some excellent stuff at times.

"I thought it was Gavin Hurren's best performance for a little while at the back and a many of the lads can be happy with their contributions today."

Today's victory was Harriers' tenth home success of the campaign. A contrast to last season, the side have picked up just four wins away from Aggborough.

They now travel to Crawley Town on Thursday and high-flying Cambridge on Saturday which will be a stern test of the mettle.

Of the team's away form, Yates added: "It's not been good - we haven't won away from home since Burton Albion.

"It's a strange one for me because we play some decent stuff away from home but if you don't work hard enough and don't get the rub of the green, you don't get results.

"We've got two big away trips coming up and they'll ask big questions of the players and I want them to react positively."