When Gus Poyet's time in charge of Brighton & Hove Albion ended so horribly over the summer, Seagulls fans might have thought that there was no chance that they would repeat last season's fourth-place finish.
The appointment of another Hispanic coach but a less well-known name in England, Oscar Garcia, would have done little to arouse hope and Brighton's start to the season backed up these pessimistic thoughts.
In our season preview earlier this year, we predicted a finish of 11th for Garcia's side but on their current run of form they are set for another run at the playoffs.
Below, Sports Mole remembers the first half of the South Coast club's campaign.
August
The best piece of business that was achieved in the summer was getting Matthew Upson to sign a contract at the club. Even though he's 34, the veteran centre-back hasn't missed a single minute for the Seagulls so far this season. Kemy Agustien, Stephen Ward and Keith Andrews were other solid additions while retaining the services of Liam Bridcutt and Leonardo Ulloa was also decent business.
The league campaign started with two disheartening defeats, where Argentine frontman Ulloa scored the opener before both Leeds United and Derby County came back to win 2-1.
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The Seagulls weren't stuck on nil points for long, though, as they kept their first clean sheets of the season in victories over Birmingham City and Burnley before finishing the month with a last-gasp draw at home to Millwall, with Ulloa again the goalscorer.
In the League Cup, Brighton's place was taken in the first round by the Football League's newest club Newport County, who shocked Garcia's side in extra time at the Amex.
September
The ninth month began with a pair of decent goalless draws on the road at two of last season's relegated Premier League clubs, Reading and Queens Park Rangers. The match at Reading was a fiery one, and Ulloa was stupidly sent off for a reckless challenge just minutes after Reading themselves had been reduced to 10 men.
Brighton got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Bolton Wanderers before their six-game unbeaten run was ended at Ipswich Town in the final game of the month.
October
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October was the bleakest month of the season for Brighton as they went winless in the four games.
Andrews rescued a point at home to lowly Sheffield Wednesday, a match which saw Ulloa break his foot, ruling him out of action for a couple of months.
Next to visit the Amex was Nottingham Forest and they left with the points, before Brighton ended the month with two more draws against Yeovil and Watford saw Brighton enter November down in 16th place and in danger of being dragged into the scrap towards the bottom.
November
Fortunes would improve dramatically in November, though, and the Seagulls' near-perfect run would see Garcia win the Manager of the Month.
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Away victories were registered at Doncaster Rovers and Wigan Athletic, with a free-flowing home win over Blackburn Rovers sandwiched in between, before the month ended with a point at Bournemouth.
Ten points out of a possible 12 saw Brighton climb back into the top half and within two points of the top six. Not bad considering their number-one striker was out injured.
December
A visit from lowly, managerless Barnsley looked like an easy way to start December but the Tykes came and conquered, with Upson's header failing to inspire a second-half comeback from the Seagulls.
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The next home match looked far tougher on paper as table-topping Leicester City came to town, but Brighton would upset the Foxes to make the Barnsley loss seem like a distant memory.
Upson was on the scoresheet again in the next game, scoring a late winner against Middlesbrough before a Christmas period of all three types of result ended the year.
First, Huddersfield Town visited and held on for a point before a Boxing Day defeat at Charlton Athletic was followed by victory at Blackpool to finish 2013.
Ulloa made his full return against Charlton and proved his worth with two goals in the loss at The Valley. His fitness in 2014 could be key to Brighton making a run at the top six. They begin the New Year only outside of the playoffs because of goal difference and if Garcia flexes his muscles in the transfer window, Brighton could again be a contender for promotion.
Pascal Lemesre
