While Middlesbrough didn't mark the halfway point in the season as they would have liked thanks to their defeat to Birmingham, there are still plenty of reasons to be positive about how the first 23 games of the campaign have gone.
Reflecting on what we've seen so far in a solid season of transformation at the Riverside, we dissect the season looking at many different points including the positives, negatives, key player and most improved player.
The positive
The main positive to take is the overall turnaround of this Boro team.
After 23 games last season Boro were just above the relegation zone, had 12 fewer points, had scored seven fewer goals and conceded 13 more!
In the circumstances, Neil Warnock was able to spend little money in the summer and saw a big overhaul with many players leaving at the end of their contracts.
Those that have stayed have almost all improved significantly under Warnock's guidance, while almost all the players who arrived have contributed in a big way.
From relegation contenders to play-off contenders - albeit still outsiders - it's been some turnaround.
The commitment, heart and fight this side always show is a delight to watch.
Notable mentions to the club's great home form, which is another part of their transformation after not picking up a league win at the Riverside in 2020 until Barnsley in October, and also their defence, which has been tremendous all season.
The negative
Inconsistency has been an issue and stopped this being even better, with Boro just four points off the top six currently.
They've at times been lacking in the final third, although that has shown signs of improving in recent weeks.
The inconsistency though shouldn't be surprising.
Boro's is both a young squad and a small one. With games coming thick and fast this season due to the compacted schedule, inconsistency was always likely to be a factor.
It's why there's no surprise to see the teams around the top being the ones with the biggest squads in the division, because they have options to change things up and keep their side fresh which Boro don't have.
Nevertheless, considering where they've come from last season, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
The high point
Millwall stands out because of the nature of the victory.
Boro raced into a three-goal lead inside 20 minutes with Duncan Watmore scoring another two goals to continue his fine form.
They then managed the game superbly to see out the victory to claim a big three points.
That it came after the only time this season Boro have lost consecutive games in the league made it an important win and epitomised the character and never say die attitude of this Boro team.
Notable mentions to another dominant 3-0 win over Derby County, the 4-1 pre-Christmas win over Birmingham which made us all merry and a really hard-fought 1-0 win away at Bristol City.
The low point
Coming off the back of a disappointing performance at Stoke City, Boro lost a second consecutive league game for the only time so far this season at Preston.
The scoreline of 3-0 made it the lowest point of the season, with Warnock notably looking upset after the game. He admitted he struggled to sleep that evening.
Boro were well below par by their usual standards at Deepdale, but 3-0 was a harsh scoreline that came as they over-committed at 1-0 to find an equaliser.
But in typical Warnock fashion, he picked himself up, reminded himself how lucky he was and then transferred that positivity back into his players.
The reaction at Millwall was superb and a credit to the Boro boss.
The key player
Take your pick from Dael Fry and Paddy McNair. The central defensive pair have been superb and look to be building a brilliant partnership.
Because of his transformation, the fact he's switched position, and the fact he offers plenty in playing the ball out of defence, the temptation is to slightly favour McNair if you had to pick just one.
The Northern Ireland international has played every minute of Boro's league campaign so far, which tells you everything you need to know about how important he is to Warnock.
The most-improved player
As noted above, a big part of Boro's overall turnaround under Warnock has been his ability to help so many individuals improve as players.
It's not so much his coaching as much as his man-management which is to thank. Warnock has a special way of making players feel a million dollars and many of the Boro players are benefiting and playing with real belief.
But two have stood out from almost the very start of the season and that is Anfernee Dijksteel and Marc Bola - a pair of full-backs signed in the summer of 2019 but initially struggling with the step-up from League One.
Under Warnock, both have completely transformed opinions on Teesside and become mainstays of Boro's defence, never letting the side down.
Again, gun-to-head, needing to pick just one, then Bola just gets the nod.
Sent out on loan 12 months ago, he couldn't get into Blackpool's League One team. Low in confidence and self-belief, he returned with Warnock surprised at how poor a player he'd previously scouted for Cardiff looked.
Warnock was preparing to loan him out before deciding to give him a chance, and what a decision that proved to be - with Bola moving well ahead of Hayden Coulson and Marvin Johnson in the battle for the left-back berth.
His personal turnaround was complete when he was handed the captain's armband for Boro's FA Cup third-round clash at Brentford. You'd have got good odds on predicting that a year ago!
Area for improvement
It's clear that it's upfront where Boro still need to improve, with Duncan Watmore - who missed the first two-and-a-half months of the season - topping the scoring charts and Johnson, wearing the number 3 on his back, one behind him.
Chuba Akpom is just starting to establish himself as a better overall option to Britt Assombalonga, but neither look like regularly scoring goals right now and Boro's play-off chances would improve immeasurably if even just one of them could find a bit of form.
Ashley Fletcher is, of course, close to a return from injury too, but it's a been a long-term, serious injury, so best not to put too much pressure on him yet, however exciting his return feels.
Verdict
In the eight games he took charge of last season, Warnock admits even he doubted he could keep Boro in the Championship.
That he did and then turned them from a walking-wounded side on the verge of dropping to League One, to a Championship play-off contender with very little squad investment just emphasizes how good this season has been so far.
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Defeats like the one against Birmingham on Saturday feel more disappointing this term compared to last because they're unusual. Boro rarely play so flatly and can be excused for the weekend because of their Covid-affected preparations. Even then they had more than enough chances to at least earn a point in the game.
It's rare Boro are out-played or dominated by any side, with few teams able to match their team spirit and heart for the battle.
The strength and size of their squad makes them outsiders, but at the halfway point Boro look more than capable of earning a place in the play-offs come May.
That they even have a chance is reason to be happy alone.
