TWO wins in three days has put a spring back in our step but after the season to date forgive me if I don't go shouting from the roof tops just yet.

In general the players' attitude and application has been first class. The dressing room has thrown a few dodgy performances in our faces but having said that they are also good enough, and honest enough, to want to turn it around.

The improved performance at Dover and the wins against Newport County and Redditch United gives you an idea of that.

More than anyone, I'm reluctant to stick my neck out with rash predictions but will say there have been some encouraging signs.

If there was a turning point, perhaps the Dover game, in the face of adversity, was it.

Despite losing, the players knew they deserved something out of the game and we said that they had to go out and make sure they got something from the next match.

We knew if we demonstrated anything like the same spirit and effort that we would get something -- and we did.

The performances have been improving match by match. I thought we deserved something against Stafford although it wasn't an outstanding performance by any means but it was a better one than at Moor Green.

It was a pity people couldn't see the game at Dover but the strength and commitment on display there carried over to Newport where the 4-0 result speaks for itself.

Monday's win against Redditch United was another step in the right direction and we treated that just like a league game.

We were very serious about it and although the 5-1 scoreline flattered us to a degree, there were lots of positives to take from it.

In recent games we've changed it in midfield and are playing a lot narrower than before. At times John Snape has been left exposed, allowing teams to get through us in the middle too easily.

But with Adam Wilde and Pat Lyons tucked in, it means teams now have to go the long way round out wide where, if they do get the ball in the box, hopefully we can deal with it.

One positive sign from Saturday's Newport game was the performance of Mark Owen and Leon Kelly, who looked a very good partnership.

Perhaps the balance in terms of mixing play up is not always the best but as we saw with Mark's tremendous reverse pass to set up Leon there is something to work with.

With Adam Webster we have other options up front and it was good to see him on the scoresheet the other night while Adam Wilde has been much brighter.

He's put in some stronger performances that have been productive and contributed to the team. He's feeling better about himself and we're feeling better about him.

The big talking point of the week is probably my decision to put Darren Middleton on the transfer list and others will follow if they don't perform.

Everybody has had a chance this season and Darren hasn't maximised his. To be fair to him he's been forced to play in a variety of positions but I've made the decision.

As a manager you stand and fall by your decisions and hopefully you make more right ones than wrong ones.

People have said that I've done it just to shake Darren up but I haven't. Having said that he's contracted to the end of the season and there is a lot of football to be played between now and then.

If he stays with us and the real Darren Middleton turns up, who knows what might happen!