Neil Harris is doing and saying all the right things
By Glen Williams
Another who perhaps needed to convince supporters was the manager.
The overall feeling of indifference following Neil Harris' appointment took a while to shake off and the early results also added to that.
Following an initial burst of results, that 'new-manager bounce', City went through a spell of winning only one of eight games in December and January, a run littered with a number of draws as the team struggled to get over the line.
That was, of course, a time of transition.
It was when Neil Harris was trying to work out his best starting XI while trying to slowly adapt his team's style of football.
In truth, this mini break has done the club a world of good.
There were signs of positive form heading into the enforced hiatus, but Harris and his side have picked that up and run with it since football's return.
They look far more organised in defence, far more controlled in their build-up play in attack and, crucially, every player now seems to be signing off the same song sheet. And that is credit to Harris and his staff as much as it is to the players for adapting to it.
He also just gets it when it comes to what fans want to hear, I feel.
Neil Warnock is a difficult act to follow when it comes to the press, the now Middlesbrough boss would come up with some real pearls for the media to work with and the fans loved him for it.
Harris is not like that (very few people are like Neil Warnock!), but the passion with which he speaks about the academy and developing youth and how mindful he is of the fans has won him huge brownie points in recent months.
Just yesterday the first thing he said to the press after that crucial win was: "I'm really pleased. Firstly, on behalf of my group, we dedicate that win to our fans, who couldn't be here today. They are sitting at home wishing they could be here right now.
"We knew the importance of the game, what it means, the rivalry, so we are delighted to win the local derby."
Let's give him his due, he is starting to win over even some of the most ardent of doubters.
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