Birmingham City boss Chris Davies believes his side deserved to beat Premier League side Leeds United after their penalty shootout defeat in the FA Cup fourth round.
Patrick Roberts brought Blues level at 1-1 late on before Ibrahim Osman hit the post in stoppage-time.
It was the second time the hosts had struck the woodwork after Jay Stansfield's early drive was also tipped on to a post.
"I said to the players that I'm proud of them," Davies told BBC Radio WM.
"It's not a term I use a lot, but I think it's something I do feel because I think we've been the better team.
"If you think of the Newcastle game last year we had a go but we died out towards the end and they blew us away a little bit, but this was completely different.
"Over the course of the game we should have won that match. We had all the big chances and unfortunately we just couldn't get the goals, but we fought to the very end and that's what pleases me most."
Davies hopes the performance will provide the platform for a Championship play-off push, with 11th-placed Birmingham just two points outside of the top six.
"We've given ourselves an example of what we're capable of today, although we didn't get the win we've definitely shown some good qualities and we have 14 league games left now," he added.
"It's all to play for still, but what I like is we've been there, we look like a team that's ready to fight and we've got quality, so we just have to keep believing and keep pushing."