Winning your home games and collecting points away has long been touted as the perfect recipe for success.
But for Cardiff City, having claimed four points from the six on offer so far this season, expectations are understandably high given that they are operating in the third tier for the first time since 2002-03.
On Tuesday night, they take the regular early season detour from league action as they host Swindon Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
That follows an impressive 2-1 comeback win over Peterborough in Brian Barry-Murphy's first competitive match as boss, which was backed-up by a largely wretched performance in a 0-0 draw at Port Vale.
The Bluebirds were alarmingly off the pace in the opening half at Vale Park while their final ball left so much to be desired - particularly from Ollie Tanner and Chris Willock on the flanks.
Poor Yousef Salech - scorer of nine goals over the second half of last season after moving to the Welsh capital from Swedish side IK Sirius - was horribly starved of service as Cardiff were given a brutal, though perhaps timely, reminder that League One won't be a walk in the park.
For the most part, Darren Moore's side appeared hungrier and showed the kind of energy and enthusiasm the Cardiff faithful demand to see from their players on a consistent basis.
The new manager's post-match comments were as honest as they were refreshing.
"I think it was a difficult game for us, I thought Port Vale played really well and we weren't at our best," Barry-Murphy told Sky Sports.
"I'm very happy that the lads stuck to task and managed to secure a draw. But a lot of things in the game weren't how we wish."
READ MORE: Frustrated Brian Barry-Murphy admits Cardiff City Got Lucky at Port Vale
And one comment in particular was enough to provide the perspective needed after what was just game two under the new regime in a 46-fixture league campaign.
"Our game wasn't quite at the level it was on Saturday," he added.
"But we're very new together and it's my responsibility to show the players how to be in the right position that will hopefully make the game more comfortable for them. It takes a lot of work, but that's my job."
There was no panic whatsoever, while his calm and measured responses again demonstrated fans have to accept that the club are a work in progress at present.
To have kept a clean sheet and earned an away point after such a dire display can only be a good thing.
The stalemate also shone a spotlight on the lack of experience - following exits of men including Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ralls and Dimitrious Goutas, for example - in Cardiff's ranks.
Former Bluebirds defender Sean Morrison - who captained the club to promotion into the Premier League in 2017-18 - noted his concerns while on punditry duty for the Port Vale fixture.
"He [Barry-Murphy] needs bodies," Morrison said on Sky Sports.
"He wants three or four more signings and he probably needs a few senior bodies in there who are going to help this young group because they are going to need it throughout the season."
READ MORE: Brian Barry-Murphy Hails Nathan Trott’s Potential as Cardiff City Boss Completes First Deal
Goalkeeper Nathan Trott has been the only addition to the squad so far this summer, although prior to the trip to Stoke-on-Trent, Barry-Murphy said he was targeting a "ballpark figure" of three further signings prior to the 7pm transfer deadline on September 1.
Morrison feels Cardiff's backline requires the most work, with the 34-year-old citing the need to bring in a right-back and a central defender over the coming weeks.
There is a confidence that additions will be made as Cardiff round off the month with league matches against Rotherham, Wimbledon, Luton and Plymouth - unquestionably some of the stronger sides in the division - as well as facing Swindon.
But the opening week of the league season fully demonstrated this remains a transition period for the club - and that patience will be required at various stages following what was such a miserable 2024-25 Championship campaign.
"When you're building something together in such a short period of time, it would be wrong to presume that the players understand all of the things we're asking from them," added Barry-Murphy.
"They're making a good job of it, but my job is to make it more automatic that they understand the way we want to play the game and then the level of performance will increase."
READ MORE: Cardiff City’s Class of Kids Wins Fergie Approval
