Rotherham United manager Neil Redfearn has targeted a mid-table finish this season, but admitted that it could take time to fully reshape his side.
The 50-year-old made a slow start to life at the New York Stadium, having lost six of his first seven games at the helm of the Championship strugglers.
Redfearn has since guided the Millers to successive wins, though, including an impressive 1-0 win away at former side Leeds United and a 3-0 triumph against Bristol City last time out.
"The big job is we have got to make sure we stay in this division which is a tough ask," he is quoted as saying by The Express. "You look at the top half, your Middlesbroughs and Derbys and people, they're in a little league of their own.
"Then you've got some good sides in between and then you've got us lot here and we want to get in that middle bit if we can but it's not going to happen overnight. I've been in the game long enough to know that some things in football take time."
Rotherham, who play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next league fixture, are now just one point from safety in 23rd place.