Joey Barton's very obvious mission of trying to create and foster a sense of positivity at Bristol Rovers, and not just on the field, has come at a slight price and it was very much evident against Barrow on Tuesday night.
Whereas the Mem has previously been ridden with gallows' humour amid the troubles of the last two years, the sign of an opposition team going down to 10 men so early in the game would have been met with sarcastic cries along the lines of the Gas being almost certain to lose.
But something felt different this week, as that numerical advantage didn't lead to any cynicism or self-loathing, it only heightened expectation and demand for victory. It's very easy to get swept up in it all, and he still retains his detractors among some supporters in blue and white, but he has generated a tangible sense of self-belief and confidence, not just in his players but throughout the terraces.
