Dundee United have hit form, putting early-season stutters behind them, to close in on the top of the Championship with important wins over Morton then early pace-setters Dunfermline.
Those victories have gone a long way to allaying the fears of fans after a difficult run of three league games that yielded just two points in late August and the early weeks of last month.
Back then, their pre-season billing as strong title favourites was looking a touch ropey and, particularly after a heavy defeat at St Mirren, had alarm bells ringing for some Arabs.
In fairness to manager Ray McKinnon, while obviously disappointed, during that period he remained the personification of calmness and insisted, once he had time to get the players up to full match sharpness and a vastly-rebuilt team had gelled, they would come good.
Perhaps more should have paid attention to his words, particularly as he’d delivered similar this time last year after a problematic period.
That’s because at almost exactly the same point in 2016/17, his team came good and late September saw them embark on a 14-game unbeaten run that took United from further adrift to the top of the second tier by Christmas.
With just a one-point gap to leaders St Mirren this time round — in October last year it was seven to Hibs — there is every reason to believe a continuation of the current form can see them back in first place soon.
If they are, the challenge this time round will be to stay there. The United faithful will not need reminding last year’s ascent to the summit was short-lived.
They hit their peak via a Christmas Eve victory over St Mirren at Tannadice, but just a week later slipped to a second away defeat at lowly Dumbarton and immediately surrendered their place.
A week later they were comprehensively beaten by Hibs under the Friday night lights at Easter Road and, in truth, never recovered in terms of the race for automatic promotion.
That means the task now, if they can go top, will be staying there.
Only time will tell if they’re capable of doing either and they remain a long way short of last autumn’s remarkable unbeaten run that also included a six-game streak without conceding a goal.
But, even at this early stage of the revival, it can be argued signs this time are it can lead to the goal of a Premiership return being achieved.
McKinnon felt the weekend success at the Pars was the best display of the season to date and that statement could probably be extended to include the period since the team dropped down from the top tier.
And if big players like Tony Andreu and Simon Murray have been lost, it’s fair to say this season’s group have a more balanced look.
Particularly going forward, the players are looking comfortable in their roles. Wide men Billy King and Paul McMullan started the season well, then had something of a slump, but in the last two victories have returned to form.
They give the side natural width and are building a good understanding with central attackers James Keatings and Scott McDonald, both of whom have worked hard on their fitness and are now showing the qualities they were expected to bring to the side.
Deeper in the team, things seem to be coming together as well. Two goals and a commanding performance from Fraser Fyvie in the middle of the park showed why the manager spent most of the summer pursuing his signature.
And even with a long hard road still lying again, the displays of him and others in the last couple of weeks have given good reason for optimism.
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