The next time Waterford FC step onto a pitch for a competitive game, it will have been almost a month without a taste of competitive action.
They headed into their mid-season break after the 4-0 rout of Treaty United at the RSC, and were set for two weeks off before tackling Cork City.
That Cork game was ultimately postponed with the Leesiders goalkeeper involved in Jim Crawford's U21 squad, which means that it will have been four weeks between Treaty and the return to play when they host Bray at the RSC.
Interim boss David Breen sat down for On The Ball this Saturday to look back on the recent form of the team, and the journey they've been on since the managerial change took effect.
"I mean, six wins leading into the break - you couldn't ask for better. The players have responded really well and there's a great atmosphere around the club, and we've gotten a bounce off the players. I don't mind the week off, but I would have liked to come back to a game."
The turnaround has been nothing but impressive. The Blues were the fans and bookies' favorites to walk the first division and gain automatic promotion, but after two games that promised an impressive year, the wheels started to come off the cart. One tepid performance too many meant that Morris left Waterford with the team far away from the expected standard. Since then it's been an upward trajectory for the interim management team of Breen and Gary Hunt.
Some may point to the fact that the teams they have been beating are not the top teams in the division (Wexford, Athlone, Bray, Cobh, Longford & Treaty) but they've looked far more like a team that could lift silverware. Breen was hoping that Friday night would be the night that they finally got to test themselves against strong opposition to see where they really stand amongst the heavy hitters.
"I would have liked to get them [Cork]. It would have given us a marker of where we are. In the six games we won, people would have expected us to win."
"For me, the Longford game was a big one for us. Going up there I was a little bit nervous, but I thought we were excellent on the night and well-deserving of our three-nil victory. For me, that's saying we're ready to go after these Corks and Galways."
Breen's take on their standard of play is not unfounded. Results can't be denied regardless of who they come against and with 18 points picked up in six games, the gap to the top of the table is now a very bridgable one.
"If you look at the points difference now we're only six or seven off the top compared to the 12 when me and Gary stepped it. Everything is moving in the right direction and there's a great atmosphere around the club."
The Blues return to action two weeks from now, when Bray make the trip to Waterford.
