THEY might still be on minus points but Rotherham United will be delighted to be where they're at right now going into tomorrow's home game with Grimsby Town at Don Valley Stadium.
They are close to clearing off their minus points deficit earlier than most would have expected, but the added incentive tomorrow is that, if they can do so, they can jump within touching distance of the club in the black closest to them - Grimsby.
The expectation was that, given a fair wind, Rotherham might be within reach of those above them round about the end of October or beginning of November.
Instead, they have produced the equivalent of play-off form to usher in the prospect by the first week of the month.
The Millers would be lying sixth under normal circumstances. By comparison, the two clubs who also started on minus points, Bournemouth and Luton, have taken nine points and 11 points respectively, which would put them in the lower reaches of the top half.
Rotherham's situation adds a little extra spice to the game tomorrow..
The Mariners might be more inclined to look at the next club below Rotherham - that's the first relegation place - and they have an 11-point lead of Bournemouth.
The Mariners can also expect the lift of a new manager very shortly, assuming one isn't appointed in time for this game.
Rotherham would probably have been anxious it didn't happen this week given that new boss often equals improved performance.
Alan Buckley departed a couple of weeks ago, his third spell at Blundell Park being unimpressive, although he did take them to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final last season when they lost to MK Dons.
Caretaker boss Stuart Watkiss made a signing last week, bringing in striker Tomi Ameobi on loan from Doncaster. He is the brother of Newcastle's Shola.
Goalkeeper Phil Barnes, who left Rotherham as a youngster in a £150,000 move to Blackpool, will get the chance to play against them this time having missed last season's Millmoor clash through a one-match ban.
He did figure in Rotherham's 1-0 win at Blundell Park near the end of the season.
In that Millmoor game last season, central defender Nick Fenton scored for Grimsby and got sent off in the first half of the 2-1 defeat.
He found himself out of Buckley's team at the start of this season which, considering his form since arriving at Rotherham, is rather surprising.
Grimsby's loss has certainly been Rotherham's gain.
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