There's a long way to go, of course, but Sabri Lamouchi's reign at Cardiff City has presented the club with a wave of fresh optimism about their chances of Championship survival.
Back-to-back wins have helped to open up some breathing space between themselves and the trapdoor into League One, providing a platform for the Frenchman to build upon.
After five games, we're starting to get a clearer picture of what Lamouchi demands from his team, and that's come to the benefit, and detriment, of several players.
Here's a look at the players who have so far thrived under the Frenchman's leadership, and those so far struggling to make their mark.
Winners
Romaine Sawyers
Given his pedigree at this level, the midfielder arguably hasn't lived up to expectations for much of the season.
Too often, games passed him by in the middle of the park, and if we're honest it probably wasn't a surprise to see him fall out of favour under Mark Hudson.
But Lamouchi clearly sees something in the former West Bromwich Albion man, who's started every game under his new boss so far.
Some of the performances have been patchy, admittedly, but you could say that about most of the players around him over the last few weeks.
However, his influence has grown over the last couple of games, culminating with his sensational volley against Reading last time out.
His performances have attracted plenty of praise from Lamouchi, and Sawyers is clearly benefiting from the heavy backing of his manager.
"Every player wants to be told they are good, their qualities are needed in the team," the 31-year-old said recently.
"Naturally, we are not in the position we want to be in, we don't want to be fighting for survival. To have a manger come in and tell us we will get out of this, saying it and showing it is a massive thing."
Kion Etete
As above, the forward has endured something of a stop-start season with the Bluebirds, but the change of style under Lamouchi appears to be bringing out the best in him.
The former Tottenham striker has produced a couple of really good showings lately, and has looked far better in terms of holding up the ball and linking up play.
Etete can be something of an enigma at times. He adds much-needed height up front, but clearly prefers the ball to feet. He's not really a goalscorer, but he's still a physical presence.
It's the latter point that's perhaps been the foundation for his recent encouraging performances. Paired alongside the similarly imposing Sory Kaba, whom he's partnered for the last two victories, it feels like he's part of a pretty useful battering ram up front.
It's not particularly pretty to watch admittedly, but it appears to be working.
Sory Kaba and Connor Wickham
Both players have effectively come in from the cold.
Connor Wickham's career has been largely wrecked by injury up until this point, and after leaving Forest Green Rovers earlier this term, he would have been forgiven for wondering if he'd ever get a run out at this level again.
He's been given a real chance to show he still has something to offer in the Championship, and this style of football might well be suited to his strengths.
Similarly, Kaba has arrived following a somewhat mixed spell at Midtjylland, and has been given an opportunity to make his mark on English football.
There feels like a genuine hunger to impress from both players, and things just feel a bit fresher in the final third with them as options.
Both appear to be firmly in Lamouchi's blueprint for the rest of the season.
Losers
Mark Harris
A player who divides Cardiff fans.
Once a regular under Steve Morison and Hudson, the Wales international has fallen out of favour in the last few weeks.
Harris hasn't been named in the last three matchday squads, although he has looked reasonably impressive when in action for the under-21s.
Whether he can force his way back into the first-team picture remains to be seen, but with his contract up at the end of the season, and with Rob Page set to name another Wales squad soon, he will surely be desperate to make an impression.
However, it's difficult to see where he fits in at present.
Rubin Colwill
Another academy product to have fallen out of favour recently, Colwill has been restricted to just one appearance off the bench under the Frenchman.
Indeed, his cameo against Luton Town was, if we're honest, pretty forgettable, and we're yet to really see the same sort of spark from him that we saw last term.
In fairness, injuries certainly haven't helped things, but clearly there are other factors at play in keeping him out the team.
Lamouchi seemed a little confused when asked about Colwill's absence in the wake of the defeat to Hull City a couple of weeks ago, before suggesting the youngster was perhaps behind others in the pecking order.
Morison was always keen to stress that onlookers shouldn't place too much expectation on Colwill, and that message has been alluded to by the current boss too, who's perhaps wary of placing too much emphasis on such a young pair of shoulders too soon.
For all the talk of aggression, one can't help but wonder if Colwill, and a couple of others, are actually physically ready to slot into the roles Lamouchi demands.
Joe Ralls
The Bluebirds skipper isn't out of the picture by any means, but his influence on this team feels like it's waning a little.
Once the very first name on the teamsheet, the midfielder has been restricted to cameos off the bench lately.
Some of those cameos have been impressive, in fairness, but with the double pivot of Sawyers and Ryan Wintle looking so effective at the moment, it's tricky to see where he fits in.
Then again, it would be foolish to write off a player like Joe Ralls. He may yet have a big role to play before the season's out.
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