Johnny Mullins was left bruised and battered with battle scars but he insisted Kidderminster Harriers-will fear no one in their fight for survival.
Mullins was left with a swollen eye and cut lip after wrestling with Rushden & Diamonds strikeforce, particularly former Harriers favourite Drewe Broughton, in Saturday's draw.
The on- loan defender admitted Harriers were frustrated by having to settle for a point which left secondfrom-bottom Kidderminster still four points behind thirdfrom-bottom Diamonds.
But the highly-rated 19-year-old, who has missed just one match since joining on loan from Reading in December, was quick to point to the positives.
"It was a tough game. The big lad up-front, Broughton, didn't make it easy for anyone," said Mullins. "We knew it would be a physical battle but we more than held our own.
"They were route one and we played some very good football. But we know we can play better than that so there's nothing to fear."
The Rushden game was undoubtedly the biggest test of Mullins' fledgling career but he knows the pressure is going to be cranked up over the next few weeks.
"We've gone five games without getting beaten and I'm certain we can win enough games to make sure we don't go down," said the youngster. "Irrespective of the other teams, all that matters is what we do.
"It is getting very tight but we are only four points behind which is realistic. If we had lost against Rushden, it would have been seven and that would have been very hard. I think we can get more than enough points in the eight games left to stay up. But we all know they are the biggest eight games of the season."
Harriers head to Darlington on Saturday and then entertain Mansfield Town on Monday and Mullins knows they need to build on the momentum of the past few weeks.
But the teenager is also convinced that comeback duo Iyseden Christie and Reuben Hazell can play vital roles in the scrap for survival. The injury-hit summer signings have yet to start a match for Harriers but the duo will figure in Stuart Watkiss' plans in the deciding moments of the season.
Striker Christie's ten minute cameo against Rushden was greeted with a rousing roar from the Aggborough fans, while defender Hazell is now close to a belated appearance.
