Craig Levein hopes Dundee United's win over St Mirren in their first game since chairman Eddie Thompson's death will allow them some form of "closure".
The manager admitted to huge relief that he had not "let down" Thompson by failing to take three points.
"Obviously I'm relieved, but I'm quite settled now that it was the right conclusion," Levein said.
"There is an element of closure now. There has been a wave of emotion before and after the funeral."
Levein had endured an emotional 10 days following the death of the employer who became a close friend, including delivering a moving eulogy at the funeral.
A bumper Tannadice crowd of 11,378 paid their respects to Thompson, who lost his long battle with cancer, by responding to calls to attend Saturday's Scottish Premier League game against St Mirren.
Levein feels that United's fifth consecutive victory, sealed through late goals from Roy O'Donovan and Craig Conway, can help the club adjust to life without their popular chairman.
"We are just going to have to get on. I'm sure the club is in safe hands with the rest of his family""The victory kind of just makes it all right," he said.
"I can put it to the back of my mind. Since the chairman's death, it's been the only thing I have been thinking about.
"I made a deal with myself that if we won, I'll lighten up a bit."
Levein admitted making a vain attempt to shield the players from the emotion surrounding the occasion in a bid to ease the pressure.
But Conway revealed that the thousands of scarves and banners that remained outside the main door in tribute to Thompson, the extra fans and minute's silence helped motivate the players.
"I think it maybe gave us a wee incentive to win the game because we are all feeling that pain," said the winger, who lashed home from 20 yards following a last-minute breakaway.
"We hadn't had a game for a couple of weeks, so you want to go out and play.
"It was good to get a win, especially with the amount of fans there as well.
"You have got to move on. It's hard. I mean it was a matter of time before it happened, but it still does not ease the fact when it does happen.
"We are just going to have to get on. I'm sure the club is in safe hands with the rest of his family."
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