Lee Bullen insists the hard work for Ayr's flying start to the Championship was done LAST season.
United moved three points clear at the summit after yesterday's 2-0 win at Arbroath.
It continues the transformation since Bullen walked through the door 10 months ago with The Honest Men staring at the relegation drapdoor to League One.
They have since kicked on after surviving the drop, with yesterday's win underlining their early season promise.
Bullen said: "There were foundations put in at the back end of last season and this season it was about getting the right characters in, getting players that suited our culture – and the players that have come in have given us a lift.
"If you looked at our form from January onwards, we would have been mid-table, so we knew we were already on the right track.
"But we had to build on that in the summer and it's a case of so far, so good, but nobody is getting carried away.
"What pleases me most about this result is it's three points at what is probably one of our toughest away games of the season.
"Nobody comes up here and gets it easy and we really had to dig in and work for each other at points of that game.
"Every substitute who has come on has made a positive impact in some way or another, whether it’s to get a spark or do something to try to get us back into the game, and it was the same again here.
"Jayden (Mitchell-Lawson) was the one who came on and had the big impact by winning the penalty and scoring the second goal. He's had a stop-start season with injuries and been waiting his chance.
"Now he comes on and puts himself right into my thoughts. That's the kind of squad we have.
"We know that the nature of this league means there will be ups and downs so to come here and get three points is absolutely massive for us."
Mitchell-Lawson proved the difference maker for Ayr after his second half introduction with the game finely poised.
Ayr had ridden a rough start in which Bobby Linn rattled the post before United went on to dominate the first half without reward.
Brad Young twice headed wide while Josh Mullin was also denied as they swarmed the Arbroath goal for long spells.
But the Lichties looked a big threat of their own and Linn was denied by a big save from Charlie Albinson early in the second half as they pushed for the opener.
Bullen called to his bench and flung on Mitchell-Lawson, Mark McKenzie and Jordan Houston in a triple change that gave Ayr new life.
Within moments, Mitchell-Lawson had won a spot kick after being hauled down by Colin Hamilton and Ben Dempsey made no mistake from 12 yards.
Then Ayr sealed the deal when Mitchell-Lawson collected a pass from Dipo Akinyemi before turning his man inside out to rifle a low drive past Derek Gaston.
Arbroath number two, Iain Campbell, said: "Ayr are strong and all credit to them because they are desperate to win. They’re a good side."
