Tuesday' 2-0 win over Gateshead marked the halfway stage of Notts County's season and many may not have predicted being four points clear at the top of the table on Christmas Day.
This season has seen the Magpies score 59 goals, 21 of which have come from Macaulay Langstaff, ten clean sheets, an eight game winning run and extending their unbeaten run in the league to 14 matches going into their Boxing Day fixture with Oldham.
It has been a season to remember for Luke Williams and his squad so far but there are still 23 more games to come, with many hoping their four-year stay in the National League will finally come to an end under the guidance of the man dubbed the non-league Pep Guardiola.
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Here are the key things we have learned in the opening 23 games of Notts' season.
Attacking threat throughout
While many have labelled the Magpies a 'one man team' given the form of Langstaff, it is evident within the statistics that those remarks are simply undervaluing the importance of everyone in the squad.
With Ed Francis' goal at Gateshead on Tuesday evening, 13 different players have been on target for Notts this season, the joint-second highest in the league only behind Chesterfield on 14.
Williams' side boast an average of 2.57 goals scored per game so far this campaign, which is higher than the average number of 1.45 goals scored by each team in the National League.
But the one alarming improvement within this Notts side has been the productivity of those in the wing-back positions, especially Adam Chicksen and Aaron Nemane.
After seemingly being on his way out of Meadow Lane under Ian Burchnall, the Zimbabwean has been a key cog to Notts' attacking play, producing his best return during his professional career, netting seven times during the course of the campaign.
His importance to the side was further cemented given the reaction on social media following his injury against Gateshead, proving just how important this man has been under Williams this season.
Nemane has also flourished in that wing-back role, working on his positioning when defending while continuing to create opportunities in the wide areas with his electric pace in one-on-one situations.
The Frenchman played just 20 games last campaign mostly as a substitute, with Williams giving him the license to provide an extra attacking threat to accompany the likes of Langstaff, Cedwyn Scott and Ruben Rodrigues.
Compared to this point last season the Magpies have scored 17 more goals, helping their goal difference by +24, but the most important statistic of all, has seen them move seven places up from last season as they sit top of the National League by Christmas.
Improved away form
From Dagenham and Redbridge to a first win away to Eastleigh, the Magpies have enjoyed some memorable trips on the road this campaign.
Their form away from home last season up until this point saw them take 16 points from 12 games, whereas under Williams, 27 points have been picked up from a possible 36, seeing them top of the away form table at the halfway stage of their season.
With six scored at Wealdstone, five against the Daggers, and four against Scunthorpe and Maidenhead, it is unsurprising to see that 63% of Notts' goals this season have come away from Meadow Lane, averaging a total of 3.08 goals scored compared to the league average of just 1.29.
Despite conceding 81% of their goals this season away from home, the approach to away fixtures has been a breath of fresh air, with Notts seemingly enjoying the pressure of playing in front of away crowds and picking up some invaluable points that will be looked back on as important ones come the end of the season.
While away fixtures to both Chesterfield and Wrexham in the new year will be a huge test of the Magpies' character, many have become a lot more confident in Notts' ability to pick up points on the road rather than just relying on their away form.
And when taking the lead in a game which Notts have done in nine of their 12 away matches, they have lead for an average of 48.7 minutes, being up at half time in 67% of their away fixtures and winning eight of those encounters at full time.
Of the four times that the Magpies' opponents have taken the lead when playing at home, Williams' side have managed to score an equalizer on three occasions, translating into an away equalizing rate of 75%, showcasing their ability to come from a goal down, most evident in their recent away trip to Glanford Park.
Loan coming and goings
The loan market for players coming in and going out has been something well utilised by the recruitment so far this campaign.
Currently four players are out on loan from Notts, with Frank Vincent and Joel Taylor enjoying regular game time in the National League, while Tiernan Brooks joined Hednesford Town and Luther Munakandafa is enjoying a fantastic stint with local side Basford Town.
It was confirmed that 18-year-old Munakandafa would be extending his loan at Greenwich Avenue until the end of the season, providing ten goal involvements in 20 games under Mark Clifford.
While Notts have the smallest squad in the division (20), allowing these players to go out on loan has proved to be beneficial for both parties, with all four seemingly flourishing away from Meadow Lane and providing Williams with a tough decision to make once their current loan deals expire in the next month.
Of the loan players coming in, Quevin Castro has become an important player in recent weeks, netting back-to-back goals against Scunthorpe and Maidenhead with the West Brom loanee expected to return to the Hawthorns in January.
Williams has explained that he is looking to explore the possibilities of extending the 21-year-old's loan, and his addition to the squad has provided some moments of magic, including his goal of the season contender against York City back in September.
In terms of January movement, the loan market is expected to be utilised for Williams as he looks to bolster his title challenging squad, but their could be movements from Meadow Lane, with Kairo Mitchell one of those players potentially seeking a move away for regular game time.
The 25-year-old started the season brightly with two goals in the opening five games of the season, but has featured largely as a substitute for his 13 league appearances, failing to make the matchday squad for the previous two fixtures.
While Tuesday's FA Trophy fixture against Chorley will provide the opportunity to showcase his capabilities from the start, it still remains unclear how he fits in to the Notts side given the form of the players around him.
Would you look to keep Mitchell in the January transfer window? Let us know in the comments.
Luke Williams influence
Many could not have predicted that Notts would be top of the league by four points going into their Boxing Day fixture with Oldham under a new manager, but Luke Williams is beginning to show what a fantastic appointment he was by Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz.
For the first time in 25 years, the Magpies will be perched at the summit of the National League, something last achieved by Sam Allardyce who went on to have a half decent career in management.
And having spoke to pretty much the whole squad this season, one constant seems to be at the forefront of their minds, and that is the Notts boss.
In his first 23 league games as Notts boss, Williams already has an average win percentage of just over 70%, with his managerial skills rewarded in October as he was named the National League's Manager of the Month after winning all six of their fixtures including wins over Wrexham and Woking.
Something that is continually mentioned is Williams' tactical knowhow and his attention to detail in training. In recent weeks, newest recruit John Bostock revealed just how much of a role Williams played in his decision to join the Magpies, relating to conversations held before their record-breaking fixture against Yeovil last month.
The ability to attract someone of Bostock's calibre and experience also indicates the brilliant job both Williams and his staff are doing behind the scenes, with many of the players signed under the Notts boss relating back to the vision Williams has of where he can take this current group of players impressing them the most.
And that vision is promotion out of this league and Williams certainly has the Notts fans believing, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
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