ROTHERHAM United's clearance of their 17 points deficit is ahead of schedule and manager Mark Robins insists that the season really starts now.
The 4-1 win over Grimsby Town took the Millers to plus one point and the 18 points they have taken from nine matches would, under normal circumstances, have them in third place.
"I wanted the 17 points cleared off in the first six matches but the players have done magnificently to do it by now, we are ahead of where most people thought we might be," said Robins.
"Our first target was zero or beyond. We've gone beyond but must make sure, now, that this is the start of our season. We start here.
"We've been playing catch-up and we're still playing it because we are nowhere near where we want to be. We have got to make sure we kick on.
"This was a really important win because not only did it take us out of minus but also put us right behind Grimsby. But then it's six points to the next set of clubs so you can see the job has only just started.
"Anybody thinking we've done the hard part - and nobody here will I'm sure - will be in for a big surprise."
Rotherham trailed at half-time and Robins said it needed to be sorted out.
"We'd never got close to anybody, we changed and the players pulled off the transformation magnificently. We imposed ourselves on them and felt if we equalised we'd go on and win.
"The second half was really good, now we can go and enjoy the Leeds game."
Richie Barker, signed on loan from Hartlepool with a permanent move in January, marked his return with a goal after going on as sub. He is cup-tied for Wednesday's Johnstone Paints Trophy clash with Leeds at Don Valley which is all-ticket Danny Harrison is set to be sidelined again with the thigh strain that forced him to miss out on Saturday.
Three first- team players will be at the club shop at Barbot Hall Estate today between 3pm and 5pm to sign autographs and meet fans.
Millers 4 v Grimsby 1: CLICK HERE FOR MATCH REPORT AND PICTURESWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarOwls Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 444 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
