For just the second time since joining Forest Green Rovers, Troy Deeney spent the entire 90 minutes in the dugout during Rovers' EFL Trophy clash with Walsall.
The FGR Player-Coach put on his coaching shoes for the game at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, which Rovers won on penalties, picking up a bonus point to put them on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.
Deeney has been integral on the pitch in league action for Rovers, but the two EFL Trophy fixtures so far have been used as an opportunity for him to get his teeth stuck into some coaching in a matchday environment.
"It was an enjoyable evening," said Deeney. "It's a different understanding of the game, a different view for myself. It's actually really strange how you see a completely different picture when you're on the touchline and when you're on the pitch just 10 yards away.
"It gives you a different type of buzz. It's obviously not the same, but seeing the gameplan being executed is really interesting. As a player, you don't appreciate how much effort and detail the coaching side put into it, whether that's set-pieces or the opposition's weak links
"It's interesting seeing the gameplan work and also things we need to tweak. There's loads to work on but it was an impressive night from the boys."
Deeney had a smile on his face as Tyrese Omotoye gave Rovers the lead in the 51st minute in Walsall, prodding the ball home after meeting Teddy Jenks' low cross - an instinctive finish that the former Watford captain would have proud of.
The 35-year-old has been doing lots of work at Stanley Park, but on and off the pitch, with Omotoye - who bagged his third goal of the season on Tuesday night. With plenty of room to develop and improve at the age of 21, Deeney sees Omotoye as his project - and was thrilled to see the Belgian-born forward get on the scoresheet.
"Ty has all of the attributes, it's just about slowing him down and calming him down," said Deeney. "That's normal for a young striker, I was the same when I was 18, 19, 20. I was erratic.
"It's about getting him to do what he does in training consistently on a matchday. The positions he takes up are brilliant. A lot of the chances he's missed this season have come from him being in great positions. He needs to keep doing what he's doing, but it's about getting the technique right when the crosses are coming in.
"He got in a great position for his goal tonight and put the chance away. Hopefully that's a catalyst for him to kick on. He's a young man and if he learns then he can go as far as he wants in this game."
The performance in the West Midlands was a step in the right direction for Rovers, who have endured a tough run of results. Deeney is confident that results will soon turn, but says that everybody needs to be pulling in the same direction for that to happen.
"We've gone through a tough period in terms of results, but we are heading in the right direction. I know it won't look like that for fans from a results point of view, but in terms of performance and togetherness, things came together this evening as we look to put things right on the weekend.
"Saturday (2-1 defeat at Accrington) was the first time where we, as players, let the gaffer down with our performance and not sticking to the gameplan.
"We've apologised with our performances in training this week - we've been really good. This was an opportunity for the lads tonight to show why they should be playing - and they did a good job. We all need to buck our ideas up and make sure we start winning more games, because otherwise the nice football we're trying to play won't count for anything."
