Bobby Burns says Glentoran learned from their mistakes to finally turn the tables on Cliftonville.
The Reds had won the previous five Premiership meetings between the sides before Saturday's 3-0 win for the Glens.
Burns scored twice to reach double figures this season, after Junior Uzokwe bagged his first goal for the club to break the deadlock.
Read more: Irish Premiership recap as Linfield boost Euro hopes with late win
The former Glenavon and Hearts midfielder says a tactical change helped Rodney McAree's side finally earn some reward over their North Belfast rivals.
Burns told BBC Sportsound: "We have had a poor record this season against Cliftonville, and it is something we have worked on and tried to improve on.
"And we have watched some of the games we have played against them and tried to change our tactics, and thankfully it worked.
"The last couple of games we have played against them I have played in midfield and we lost a lot of the second balls. We talked about our full-backs becoming a bit more narrow and trying to help us with those second balls.
"And obviously Rhys (Marshall) coming into midfield as well and giving us a bit more legs. It was a good shape for us and it obviously worked well for us in the Linfield game and again today.
"I have enjoyed playing in that system and thankfully it gives me a licence to get forward."
Burns made it three goals in the space of four days, with Saturday's brace coming after his late equaliser at Windsor Park on Wednesday night.
It brings the midfielder up to 10 goals this season.
"Last season I scored zero so I had a little bit of work to do. It is something I have tried to work on, making more runs into the box," he added.
"At times I have to sit, but any time I get to the edge of the box I back myself to score.
"I have a good strike, and I just have to try and get in those positions more often. But it doesn't look too good when you see Philip Lowry scoring 20 - that sort of beats the achievement."
Saturday's win has moved the Glens up to third spot in the Premiership, five points behind Linfield with just two games remaining.
While an automatic European spot may be beyond them this season, the East Belfast men will have another opportunity through the play-offs.
"I think over the past couple of years we have focused on other people a little too much. I think we just have to focus on ourselves and control the controllables," Burns said.
"And we just have to do our best. We just have to focus on winning our remaining games.
"And if we come third then so be it. We will do our best.
"European football is vital for full-time clubs to sustain that model, so we understand the importance of doing that.
"And we have to learn the lessons of doing that."
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