Given the state of play down south, later affecting EMA, I think MAN would have been highly criticised if it hadn't played its part tonight, whatever the staffing situation. On rare occasions, you have to take a wider perspective of what's happening elsewhere and bite the bullet. After pilots have held for ages and then done a couple of go-arounds, I imagine they don't like to be messed about.
But yes, well done MAN for accepting what you did.