Norwich City's attempts to build on a successful return to the Premier League were thrown into turmoil during the summer, as manager Paul Lambert left for Aston Villa.
In came Chris Hughton, determined to establish the Canaries in the top flight with a clutch of new signings including Sebastian Bassong and Michael Turner.
After a difficult start Norwich gradually grew in confidence, claiming the scalps of Arsenal and Manchester United during an impressive 10-match unbeaten run.
Here, Sports Mole looks back on Norwich's first half of the campaign.
August
Life under Hughton began with a crushing 5-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage, before Norwich steadied the ship with a 1-1 home draw with Queens Park Rangers.
Safe passage in the League Cup was secured in a narrow 2-1 win over Scunthorpe United, courtesy of a Wes Hoolahan penalty.
September
Norwich continued their early-season struggles during a difficult September run, which saw City take just two points from four league games.
Hughton did enjoy a positive start to the month against his former club as a late Robert Snodgrass equaliser secured a deserved 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.
A goalless draw against West Ham United was followed by defeat by a single Demba Ba strike at Newcastle United.
A 1-0 League Cup win over Doncaster Rovers gave Hughton a platform to build on, but a 5-2 home thrashing at the hands of Liverpool brought to an end a miserable month without a league win.
October
Grant Holt put the Canaries ahead at Stamford Bridge to kick off October, but Chelsea stormed back to record a 4-1 victory.
Arsenal were next to visit Carrow Road, with Norwich stunning the Gunners 1-0 as Holt pounced to score a crucial winner and earn the Canaries their first league win of the season.
Michael Turner turned home a late equaliser at Villa Park to earn Norwich a share of the spoils in their first match against Lambert's Aston Villa. A positive month was rounded off by a 2-1 League Cup fightback against Tottenham Hotspur, which secured the Canaries a quarter-final place.
November
Hughton's charges romped through November unbeaten, collecting nine points from five Premier League games.
Bradley Johnson headed in a winner at home to Stoke City before a hard-fought point at Reading kept their strong run of form alive.
Anthony Pilkington helped Norwich condemn Manchester United to a shock defeat with a bullet header and extend the unbeaten run to six games.
The good times continued on the road as a last-gasp equaliser from Bassong secured a 1-1 draw at Everton. Snodgrass helped Norwich repeat the scoreline four days later at Southampton with a free kick.
December
Goals were flying in for the Canaries in a December as a 2-1 win over Sunderland was swiftly followed by a 4-3 success at Swansea.
A memorable match at the Liberty Stadium saw Norwich take a 3-0 lead before surviving a second-half onslaught to claim three points.
A promising League Cup run was brought to an abrupt end by Aston Villa as Lambert came back to haunt his former side in a 4-1 home defeat.
Hughton's record run of 10 league games unbeaten also came to a close thanks to Romelu Lukaku, who completed a 2-1 West Bromwich Albion fightback at The Hawthorns.
A home defeat to Chelsea on Boxing Day will fail to dampen the optimism at Carrow Road, with Norwich sitting in 11th place following a wonderful winter revival.
Liam Power
