Paul Wotton expressed satisfaction with Kidderminster Harriers’ recent run of results despite acknowledging the team’s often gritty and unglamorous style of play. The newly promoted Harriers secured a 1-0 victory over Gateshead on Wednesday evening, moving up to fourth place in the National League standings. This win marked their accumulation of 17 points from a possible 21 since their opening day defeat to Hornchurch.

Wotton, who took charge of Kidderminster shortly after their National League North playoff victory over South Shields, praised his squad’s resilience and defensive discipline. “We defended doggedly and showed real good character,” he said, highlighting the team’s organisation and ability to maintain composure under pressure. He described the match as having two contrasting halves: a dominant first half followed by a second half where the team adopted a more defensive, away-match mindset to protect their lead.

While Wotton downplayed the idea that “winning ugly wins leagues,” he acknowledged that sometimes effective results take precedence over style. “It can’t always be beautiful, it can’t always be pretty, but I’ll take it, definitely,” he said. The manager emphasized that points carry the same value regardless of whether they are earned at home or away.

Since replacing Adam Murray, Wotton has largely rebuilt the Kidderminster squad, with only two players from last season’s team—David Davis and Reece Devine—featuring in Wednesday’s starting lineup. He described his players as hardworking and honest, qualities he values highly in his team.

The manager also cautioned against premature focus on league positions, calling for humility and concentration on upcoming fixtures. “It’s far too early to be looking at tables. We’ll just stay humble and concentrate and focus on ourselves, game by game,” he said.

Wotton noted that some players were disappointed with their performance despite the victory, viewing this as a positive indicator of the team’s ambition and growth. “It shows how far we have come and how much we’re learning and getting better all the time,” he added.

With five wins and two draws from their last seven matches, Kidderminster Harriers appear to be making a strong start to their campaign under new management, blending defensive solidity with determination as they aim to continue climbing the National League table.