Rob Kelly insisted that his side got the result their performance deserved as they earned a 1-1 draw against Exeter City at St James’ Park on the final day of the League Two season.
Tom Beadling’s well taken second half goal brought Kelly’s men level after The Grecians had stolen in front though top scorer Matt Jay midway through the first period.
The result took The Bluebirds’ tally to 50 points for their first season back as an EFL club and the caretaker boss said there was plenty to build on as they move towards 2021/22.
“I thought we deserved the point,” Kelly told iFollow.
“The performance probably epitomised the way they have been, certainly since I have been in charge and a lot of the time with David Dunn too.
“The commitment was there; it wasn’t a dead rubber, and we didn’t take anything for granted.
“We’ve had a chance to refresh this week and I think you saw that in the performance. We had a professional duty to the Club, our supporters and ourselves that we competed.
“When David and I came in we knew it was going to be really, really tough and had no grand ideas about sailing through it – it was a hard league to play in with a crammed pre-season.
“We’re not popping champagne corks because we got 50 points, but I think from where we were and what’s happened, the players deserve the credit and accolades because they’re the ones who have to handle the pressure.
“You have to earn your right to be in the Football League and I think this season we have earned our right.”