JOHN Coleman hailed Offrande Zanazala after the striker came off the bench to net a late winner to see off Doncaster 1-0.

The frontman squeezed home a shot at the near post three minutes from time after outmuscling Andy Butler and firing through the legs of visiting keeper Marko Marosi.

It was Zanzala’s first of the season and he celebrated with vigour in front of the home fans.

The victory lifted the Reds up to fifth in the League One table, made it three wins and two clean sheets on the bounce and extended their unbeaten third tier run to 10 games.

And Coleman felt there was no-one more deserving of the limelight than the matchwinner.

“I am delighted for him,” said the Reds boss.

“We had to believe it would be our day if we kept going and thankfully it did. I was pleased it was Ozzy who scored. He is a great lad, a great character and he fully deserved his goal.

“I wasn’t sure about the celebration at the corner flag – and he got booked for it – he might have to pay £12 for that but it was just the relief spilling over.”

He added: “He is a great lad, every day on training he has got a smile on his face. He runs himself into the ground. He got exactly what he deserved tonight.

“He is one of those lads who never hides, he doesn’t shy away from confrontation with centre halves.

“I spent a lot of time over the summer trying to sign him so it is pleasing for me as it validates what I am trying to do. “

The match with Doncaster was an entertaining affair with both teams playing some good football.

And Coleman was pleased with the performance.

He added: “It was a smashing game with two good football sides, lots of endeavour, it was honest, there was no cynicism and it was end-to-end stuff.

“We started well and then they came into it but at the start of the second half we were like Tasmanian Devils, we were breath-taking for 15 minutes and created around seven chances in the first five minutes.

“Doncaster are a very good side, they will be challenging for the automatics at the end of the season and we just have to hang in there.

“We have proved we can play good football, some of their players were glowing with praise with the way we played. Some of the football was fantastic and long may it continue.”