Video: Lincoln 0 Stafford Rangers 1
Leaders Stafford Rangers answered manager Neil Kitching's demand to show some passion and desire to return to winning ways at play-off hopefuls Lincoln United.
A 20th-minute header from leading scorer Ben Haseley settled a game of few chances.
But Kitching was pleased with the whole team's attitude and commitment following the previous week's shock home defeat against Kidsgrove Athletic.
Lincoln lost the services of skipper Michael Jacklin late on to a straight red card after his flailing arm caught Boro defender Jermaine Johnson.
"It was an important win for us at a very difficult place," said Kitching. "Lincoln have beaten both Shaw Lane and Coalville and they were really flying.
"There wasn't a lot of quality in the game but when there was I thought that we were the team that showed it.
"We had to dig in a bit in the second half when they came at us but we stood up to the test and deserved the result.
"It was a typical fully committed non-league game of football where we had to show our steely side and we can expect more tests like that one before the end of the season."
Rangers suffered an early setback when full-back Sam Griffiths had to leave the field after just 10 minutes with an ankle injury to be replaced by on-loan Levi Rowley.
"It doesn't look brilliant with Sam's injury so we could be without him for the next game," added Kitching.
"But it gives someone a chance and it's going to be all about the squad now with the heavy pitches and poor weather."
Boro are 17 points ahead of second-placed Coalville, who have four games in hand, in Evo-Stik Division One South.
