The Manchester City players decided to do their talking on the pitch, posting a comfortable 2-0 win over Reading in their English Premier League game, just a day after manager Roberto Mancini was fired.
Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko scored two goals in either half, with City putting on a wonderful attacking display at the Madejski Stadium to bounce back from the disappointing F.A. Cup final loss, albeit in an inconsequential match and against a side that has already been relegated from the Premier League.
With the win, City guaranteed second spot, on a day when the travelling supporters decided to show their support for Mancini courtesy several banners and chants throughout the game.
Caretaker manager Brian Kidd said getting three points against Reading sealing second place in the Premier League was vital for City.
"To be honest, the three points was the most important thing," Kidd told the club's official website. "I think you get to this stage of the season where it's not about performances, it's about getting results.
"It was on my mind that we needed to seal that second spot in the league, that's the least we had to do.
"Everyone -- the staff, the fans and the players -- did it for the club tonight, so I'm pleased. It was special effort from the players, and the backroom staff have been terrific as well -- the support from them has been really good."
Kidd admitted everyone at the club had been shocked by the turn of events, with the club announcing the departure of first team coach David Platt as well right before kickoff.
"If you were to ask me about what has gone on in the last 24 hours, it was a shock to the staff," Kidd added.
"I would have just taken the result tonight (Tuesday). If you had said to me you are going to get three points and clinch second place, I'd have accepted that -- the way the last 48 hours have gone. We aren't greedy and we don't have to qualify now, we're second.
"All credit to the players, they are the ones that have had to put up with stuff off the pitch as well. I'm pleased for them because it would have been a travesty if they hadn't finished second.
"It's not me, I've just come in and been asked to take the team for two games. As a Manchester lad, I couldn't say no."
Reading manager Nigel Adkins had Alex McCarthy to thank for the score staying a respectable 2-0, with the goalkeeper making a string of fantastic saves during the 90 minutes.
Adkins, though, felt there was more than enough in the performance to show that Reading would do OK in the Championship next season, as they bid to jump straight back up to the Premier League.
"We did pass the ball well and in the second half I think we gave them a good run for their money," Adkins said.
"We've played against a top side in Man City, we were not quite sure how they would turn up tonight given the situation that they have faced over the last couple of days, but give their players great credit because their mindset was on it.
"From our point of view the goals we've given away are things we could have avoided, maybe we didn't get near them enough in the first half and if you open yourself out you're going to get taken the cleaners by the good teams.
"But, that said, Pav's (Pavel Pogrebnyak) header was well saved by Hart and we had one and two other oohs, aahs and close shaves. Maybe with our players we allow them to play the ball and make mistakes because that's the only way they're going to improve.
"There's lots of positives that we're going to take moving forward to future."
