Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says victory over Stoke City was their best of the season.
Substitute John Carew's second-half header - his fifth goal of the season - was enough to earn a fourth successive win for Villa.
It came at the end of a demanding week which had seen them win at Manchester United and Sunderland while Stoke had an eight-day break from action.
O'Neill said: "My own view is it may well be our best win of the season so far.
"We had to really dig deep. There were passages in the first half where we played really well but Stoke were dangerous all the time.
"We got the goal and there were a lot of last-ditch tackles with players prepared to put their bodies on the line.
"We got over the line and it was a great win for us after going to Old Trafford last Saturday evening and then away to Sunderland in midweek.
"We've gone with the same team for the last three games and I was concerned how much energy we might have left towards the end of the game particularly with Stoke not having played in midweek."
O'Neill added: "I did consider the possibility of changes but the players want to play. The likes of Ashley Young and James Milner don't want a rest.
"People ask whether you have the strength in depth and it is always debatable whether you have that or not. The Premier League is unbelievably difficult but the players are playing with so much confidence and a lot of desire."