Three Premier League victories in the space of eight days without conceding a goal has transformed Everton’s season.
They started the first of those bottom and facing a battle against the drop. Now they are four points above the relegation zone, just three points from the 'mid-table mediocrity' of 15th place from a few weeks ago.
Whisper it, Sean Dyche appears to be building something special.
Every successful Everton team had a style with determination and resilience at its core. This squad has those in abundance.
It’s too soon to get carried away with the future, particularly given the club’s precarious off-field position, but progress under Dyche is obvious.
He has had little money to spend, with both Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi sold for balance sheet purposes and a number leaving when their contracts ended.
Beto and Youssef Chermiti have been recruited in attack though the latter is clearly more for the future. Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma arrived on loan and Ashley Young, 38, was free. Also, and crucially, Jarrad Branthwaite has returned after his season-long loan at PSV Eindhoven.
The balance of the squad has improved, but it has been far from a radical overhaul.
What Sean Dyche has done is what the best managers do - vastly improve the squad with man-management and tactical skills.
The Blues boss has worked with wisdom and diligence to bring out the best in his players. Vitaliy Mykolenko’s improvement is perhaps the most noticeable. His understanding of what’s required defensively have increased ten-fold.
Dyche is helping players maximise their talents while ensuring they buy in to his philosophy of what you need to succeed at a club like Everton.
On Saturday, they go to
Burnley, where Dyche made his managerial name and with Branthwaite and Idrissa Gana Gueye both suspended. The loss of Branthwaite is particularly unwelcome. He has shone and his partnership with James Tarkowski is formidable.
Burnley’s five-goal hammering of
Sheffield United and a battling draw at
Brighton point to a improving side, but it’s also another opportunity for Everton to underline just how much their away form has improved.
As far as fans are concerned, it’s only onwards and upwards.