Eoin Toal insists that the season starts at the halfway point for Derry City.
The Candystripes suffered a bad start to the new campaign, leading to manager Declan Devine's departure after his side earned just two points in the first six games.
Joining from Stephen Kenny's Ireland backroom staff, Ruaidhri Higgins ' encouraging start in the hot-seat has seen the Candystripes turn things around, their eight-game unbeaten run broken by the 2-1 defeat to Dundalk last Friday.
"They still have quality players who will hurt you if you give them time and space, and we did that," said Toal, who himself cut the deficit with a header, but ultimately to no avail.
"The goal gave us a wee lift and we finished the stronger side, but couldn't get the second.
"But it's our first loss in nine games and we'll take the positives out of it and it's a massive game for us now against Waterford."
Despite displaying better form Derry are still in seventh place, albeit just five points off Bohemians in fourth.
On loan Will Patching was in excellent form for the Foylesiders but Dundalk recalled him this week.
Higgins moved quickly to sign striker Jamie McGonigle from Crusaders.
Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, who was the League's top scorer in 2019 while with Derry, has also returned on loan from Dundalk in a further boost to the club's attacking options.
"We are bang on halfway through the season now," said Toal.
"Look, Will is a very good player, it was a pleasure to play with him. But while we've had a few bad results, we have the quality and the mindset to finish high up the table."
Toal was made Derry captain by Devine for this season and he believes things were starting to improve when he left.
"Everybody was close to Declan," said the 23-year-old.
"He showed a lot of faith in me but we were getting better as a unit after it took us a couple of games to get going.
"But look, Ruaidhri came in and last week was only our second defeat since his arrival, and we feel we can move up the table now.
"This is a big club, it's an honour to play for Derry and we are seeing that in the performances now.
"We all know how good Ruaidhri is. Everyone loves working under him. You can see why he was with Dundalk and Ireland, he has brought a lot of good ideas.
"He really lets you go out and express yourself, makes you feel confident on the ball.
"But you need a never say die attitude too, and that's built within you. This team has shown we have that by scoring late goals in games.
"Now it's about being consistent, starting off the second half of the season in the right way.
"Everyone is gelling together, we're close, we all get on really well and are here for the same reason, to be successful."
