Gianfranco Zola hopes that the promising second half display against Manchester United can act as a catalyst for his side to start picking up the points that recent performances have merited.
Two first-half strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a victory for the reigning Barclays Premier League champions on Wednesday, but it was a combative second period which produced several good opportunities for the visitors that gave plenty of optimism for the manager, which he will take into Saturday's game up at Middlesbrough.
Zola said: "I was very happy with the team in the second half and I told them so. That is now a starting point for us. We knew that it was going to be hard but we perhaps made it even harder for ourselves.
"We gave Manchester United all the respect that we needed to, but at the same time we wanted to try and win the game. They've got fantastic players but we can be as good as them. In this game however, we couldn't do that, it's understandable because they're a great team in great form."
"The game was the complete opposite to our previous three games where we started well. They will take every single opportunity and that was our mistake."
The visitor's plight was not helped when Valon Behrami was stretchered off with a calf injury on the stroke of half-time, meaning Zola had to shuffle his midfield pack once more.
The Swiss international was replaced by Luis Boa Morte, one of three substitutes that impressed the manager. He said: "The players who came on for the second half - Jack Collison, Luis Boa Morte and Freddie Sears - did very well and I'm pleased with them. It's a real pity that we're missing some important players but we just have to get on with it and do our best."
Zola is confident in a change in fortunes, starting with the visit to the Riverside to face Middlesbrough on Saturday, before home matches against Everton and Portsmouth. "I know the value of my players and I'm not worried at all. My concern is that they don't get too frustrated. I totally believe in them and I have so much faith in their qualities for us. I am sure this spell is going to be over soon."