Saturday's 1-0 win at Selhurst Park was Freedman's first victory since replacing George Burley as manager.
"Fortune favours the brave and Vaughany is definitely brave. I am always going to stick up for the strikers, that's for sure," he said.
"I am under no pressure, so in a strange way I knew the first win would come. We have a dressing room who will give everything they have got."
Andy Keogh, the former Iron striker, was praised by the Bristol City boss Keith Millen after helping the Robins to a 4-0 win at Preston North End.
The Irishman opened the scoring after five minutes in his second appearance for the club after joining on loan from Wolves.
"He worked his socks off on Tuesday and here he showed what a threat he is - he was a real handful," said Millen.
Despite the heavy defeat leaving his side 10 points from safety, the Preston boss Phil Brown insisted his side can avoid relegation to League One.
"You have to be positive - 18 games to go, there is still time, but we have to eradicate these mistakes," he said.
"The bottom line is we cannot afford to capitulate the way we did in the second half. It's as simple as that."
Nottingham Forest moved into the automatic promotion places thanks to their 1-0 success over Watford, but their manager Billy Davies predictably played down his side's chances of success.
"I think we are great candidates for the play-offs but if I am totally honest I think we are a little bit short for going up automatically. That is my honest evaluation," he said.
"I have a great bunch of players here who work extremely hard and I am very proud of what they are doing."