WE have learned a lot from the first half of the season.

We were probably trying to play too much football but there is a fine balance between playing the sort of football we would like to play and doing the right things at the right time.

This level of football dictates that the style will be more direct and that style has helped us in recent weeks.

We definitely look as if we are going to score goals now.

During the first half of the season, we have not had the best of luck with injuries to key players which has meant that we have not been able to play a settled side, particularly in the back four.

That has had a big influence on results because we did not have the size of squad where we could provide cover. That is not the case now.

We now have players in on wages which are acceptable, and sustainable, to the club and a squad which we believe is competitive with any team in the division.

We feel that we have proved that in the last six to eight weeks.

With cover in most areas of the field, anyone losing his place through suspension or injury might find it difficult to get back in.

During the latter part of the season, character will be very important and that was something which came through strongly last year.

A lot of the players who were here then are still here now — they were the ones who got us out of trouble last year when we lost just six of the last 26 games.

All of the players and staff know just how important it is to stay in the Football League and this time, we did the majority of our business in the build-up to the January transfer window.

It has been very positive for us that we have had the time to look at players and understand what they are capable of.

We have talked at length about the programme to come and if we could reverse the results that we have had in the first part then we will be pushing up the table.

I was told that if the last seven games had finished after 60 minutes, then we would be 14 points better off and 12th in the table. For this year, that would have been very acceptable.

Unfortunately, we are not in that position and we now have to make sure we have the right results after 90 minutes.

We have shown some character and desire in the last six weeks to show that we are capable of getting results.

I’m very pleased with the transfer deals we have done over the last week.

Simon Clist has been very consistent; he’s a great professional who does everything you ask of him and is an example to the younger players.

He has performed in a number of different positions and that’s very important, too.

You have to have that calibre of player who is versatile — Rob Purdie is another — in a squad of our size.

Nathan Elder has come in and worked his socks off while Richard Peniket has been unlucky with a slight knock but has looked sharp in reserve games.

Now it is a case of making sure that everyone is performing to the level they need to to get us out of trouble.