After ending his first international window with a victory, Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says the team’s attitude and togetherness was first class. Jamaica beat hosts Honduras 2-1 in the Concacaf Nations League A group game at Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa on Tuesday night.

The Jamaicans were desperate for a victory after their 0-0 draw with Cuba on Friday, and got the job done with Michail Antonio’s 76th-minute penalty making the difference after David Ruiz cancelled out teammate Denil Maldonado’s own goal.

The win sees Jamaica move top of the group on four points, overtaking Honduras in third on three points.

With only the top two from the group advancing to the quarter-finals, McClaren praised the players for overcoming a difficult challenge.

“I think after the Cuba result, which we played so well and couldn’t score goals, it added the pressure for us coming here,” he said after the win. “I think we had to win, we definitely didn’t want to lose the game, otherwise that would have left us in a bad situation. So, it was imperative we came here, we got a performance, we got the win.

“I credit my players for their work. They were hard to beat, great team spirit, unbelievable team spirit, good players coming off the bench and finishing the job. I said to their coach Honduras well played, really tough but we came out on top.”

Along with the English-born players, McClaren, who was appointed at the end of July, says he was pleased with the efforts of Kaheim Dixon and Norman Campbell.

“Ethan Pinnock was fantastic at the back, Antonio upfront, Bobby Reid, Kasey Palmer, but also some new players coming up,” McClaren said. “I’m getting an opportunity to know Norman Campbell. He persisted and got us the first goal, then introducing Kaheim Dixon, so we had a really nice blend of personality of the older guys looking after the younger guys.

“At the end of the day, football is what you do in one box and what you do in the other box. We in that box defended for our lives and we were very clinical with our opportunities.”

West Ham forward Antonio, who scored the winner, was happy to avoid another Cuba situation.

“It’s very good to be fair,” he said. “Our game against Cuba, we had a lot of opportunities that we didn’t take. Today, we scored and managed to get the win. Obviously, we want to finish top of the table. I think they played very well, they controlled the game a lot but I think we had the better chances.”

Midfielder Joel Latibeaudiere says there’s more to come from the team under McClaren.

“It was a successful camp, getting to know the new faces and coaching staff,” he said. “It’s a new era for us. I think the high point for us was playing in front of such a big crowd back in Kingston. They really showed up for us and we appreciate that massively because at the end of the day, we want to bring glory back home to the island.

“To come here to Honduras and win in Honduras and go top of the group, it’s definitely a successful camp. I know there’s a lot of improvements to be done but just settling in with a new coaching staff is good and it’s a new era for us and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Reggae Boyz will return to action next month with an away trip to Nicaragua on October 10 before hosting Honduras at the National Stadium on October 14.