Newcastle coach Scott Miller is keeping his team firmly grounded despite their audacious start to the A-League season.
The Jets are second on the ladder and on equal points with leaders Brisbane after David Carney netted to defeat champions Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.
Having already impressed with a first-up win over Wellington and going within two minutes of a creditable draw against grand finalists Sydney FC, Miller's honeymoon period does not appear to ending.
Two victories in three games has the outfit one victory away from equalling their torrid 2014/15 campaign total of three wins.
However a composed Miller said the squad were still just focusing on taking tiny steps as the many new faces and some old continue to grow under the new post-Tinkler set-up.
"It's small successes for a club that's in the rebuild and it's very important that we actually recognise the achievement tonight and enjoy it," Miller said.
"It's not just a case of expecting it, it's very much a case of believing it and building on it and then moving on come Monday.
"This is not a grand-final win, it's a round-three win and six points on the board. So it's an enjoyable factor and very pleasing for everybody."
Apart from his obvious praise for Carney, Miller said stand-in goalkeeper Ben Kennedy had given him something serious to think about when Mark Birighitti returns to the selection fray next week following his horrible facial injuries by the boot of Sydney's Shane Smeltz.
Kennedy made five saves, including getting his fingertips to a sizzler from Fahid Ben Khalfallah that would have otherwise tucked under the top post during the first half.
"Ben Kennedy, he was superb," Miller said.
"Three or four key saves, and credit to Ben to show that mentality coming in - it's not easy."
"It's been a challenging week for the club with the two injuries we've sustained (Birighitti and Labinot Haliti's ACL tear).
"But one thing's for certain, no one felt sorry for themselves. They've individually stepped up and demonstrated that they warrant an A-League badge on their shirt and how passionate you have to be to play for this club."
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