HULL City's half-term report card has been one to stick proudly on the fridge this Christmas.
The ticks far outnumber the crosses at the halfway mark of the Championship season and, as a New Year beckons, only league-leaders Cardiff have managed to squirrel away more points than the Tigers' haul of 44.
The summit of the table, with City perched proudly in second, offers a blissful snapshot of the progress made during the opening months of 2012-13, and invites supporters to merrily dream of what comes next.
For the man at the heart of the uprising, though, there is only cause for "quiet" congratulations ahead of today's clash with Leicester City.
"We're going along very nicely but it's still only halfway," said City boss Steve Bruce.
"I like that we're nudging along quietly. Being stuck out where we are on the coast, it keeps a little bit of a lid on things. We're not a club that's going to get all the national headlines but that suits me fine."
Such indifference outside of the East Riding will not last if City's current winning run continues.
A 2-1 victory at Derby County last Friday was the Tigers' fourth on the spin and 10th in 14 games. Since losing three in a row at the start of October, Bruce's men have amassed 31 points from a possible 42. No other side in the league can touch City at present.
The sustained success is also moving goalposts. Where once a top-six finish would have been deemed a huge achievement, players and fans alike are beginning to contemplate automatic promotion.
So how does Bruce reflect on the season so far?
"In management you're never happy all the time," he said. "Or you shouldn't be anyway. There were times when we could have done better but quietly I've been really happy with how things have gone.
"I've got to give a mention to my staff. They've created a spirit around the place that breeds success.
"That's something I wanted right from the start and credit to everyone for buying into it.
"You can see it transfer to the players and they look as though they're enjoying themselves."
A move up to second in time for Christmas Day represents the club's highest position since relegation from the Premier League and also provides a pleasing omen.
In seven of the last 10 Championship seasons, the side in second at Christmas has gone on to win promotion to the top-flight.
Compared to the promotion-winning side of 2007-08, City are streets ahead at halfway.
Bruce's men are 12 points better off than Phil Brown's side five years ago. In fact, it wasn't until February 2 that the groundbreaking class of 2008 had gathered 44 points.
All the signs are positive but every sinew in Bruce still begs for caution.
"I wish there was just a month to go and I could get excited, but there's not," he said.
"From what I've seen at the halfway stage, I know we've got a good chance. That's all. There's certainly nothing to be frightened of.
"What we've got here, including what we've inherited and what we've brought in, is different to a lot of sides I've managed. We're not the biggest but we've got pace and we look to play football.
"For the Championship, it's as good a footballing side as I've had in a long time."
January, as ever, promises to define the fortunes of many pretenders to the promotion throne, and Bruce is certain to be active. As well as bidding to bring Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale back to the KC Stadium on a long-term loan, he would like to see Robbie Brady and David Meyler stick around until May and beyond. A new striker, most notably Fraizer Campbell, would be the icing on the cake.
"I'm always looking for improvement all the time," he added.
"I've said repeatedly that I would like to add a couple in the window if we can, but that's all I'm looking for.
"Keeping the ones we've got will be the big thing. Can we get Stockdale back? Can we secure Brady and Meyler until the end of the season?
"Those are the things I'll be looking to do and if we can get a couple of new faces in as well, I'd be very happy."
For now, Bruce has two final mouth-watering fixtures to focus the mind in 2012.
The visit of Leeds United this weekend can see City complete their first league double over the West Yorkshire rivals since 1987-88, but first comes a reunion with Nigel Pearson today.
Leicester are one of seven sides to have beaten the Tigers this term and perhaps the most convincing of all the victors.
But City have grown since a loss at the King Power Stadium saw Bruce sent to the stands in September. A sweeter balance has been found between defence and attack, and anything close to their recent best could well be enough to seal a fifth consecutive win – their best run of form since March 2005.
"Leicester played very well against us earlier in the season and I'm looking forward to the challenge of taking them on at our place," added Bruce.
"They're a very good team and I genuinely believe they're definitely one of the sides to beat. They're not on the best run of form but Leicester and Cardiff have shown the most in the first half of the season to tell me they'll be up there. It'll be a really big clash, let's hope we're at our best."
