Everton manager David Moyes hopes the last few days have given his players and fans a lift which will carry them through to a successful finish to the season.
Victory over Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester City was accompanied by the signing of Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic for £5.5million and the return of midfielder Steven Pienaar, on loan, from Tottenham.
After a month of transfer speculation, discussion about the club's finances and indifferent results - including defeats to Bolton and Spurs and draws with Aston Villa and Blackburn - Moyes thinks this week has made a real difference.
"It is long time since I have been able to talk positively," said the Scot.
"Nearly every question I've had has been of a negative nature about what is happening off the pitch or results.
"But the players certainly gave the fans something to shout about in midweek and the performance against Manchester City was great - we've not had many days like that recently.
"What a difference it makes if you win one which maybe you are not expected to and you play above your station and the players respond, it gives everyone a lift.
"Hopefully the last few days shows, with a little bit of cash, we can try to make something work and give the supporters something to be excited about.
"It (signing players) definitely gives everyone a lift but if we hadn't brought anyone in and beaten Manchester City it would still have given everyone a lift.
"We don't always need an awful lot of money at Everton to make things happen and I hope this week proves to be the case.
"Obviously we don't know how Nikica will do, there is no manager in the country who can guarantee when he brings in a player he will work - no matter whether you pay £50million or £5million.
"We shouldn't be asking an awful lot (early on) but over the years we have tended to bring people in and we have tended to spend round about that and if we have we have made something out of it.
"I am hoping Steven and Nikica can give us that little bit and keep everyone on a high because we want to try to finish the season strongly and over the years we have tended to do that."
Moyes has tried to lower expectations on the new arrivals but would be more than happy to see both reproduce the form shown at Rangers - where Jelavic scored 36 goals in 55 appearances - and in Pienaar's first spell with the club.
"I hope we are getting a centre-forward at the right age who can do numerous things but importantly scores a few goals," said the Toffees boss.
"He has already succeeded in Scotland, which has a British style, so hopefully he doesn't have any problem settling in.
"I hope he hits the ground running - we need it - but if not he is here for the long time and we'll be gentle with him and give him time to settle in.
"Steven is an important signing for us because he was someone the players held in high regard and getting him back was popular among the lads.
"We just hope we have the same Steven Pienaar who left us 12 months ago and if we have we'll have a decent player.
"It takes some doing so I will be hoping it is in him somewhere and he can help us out but he will need some game practice before he is up to speed."
Both players are set to be included in the squad to face bottom side Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Despite beating the team top of the league in City, Moyes is wary about facing the club rock-bottom with only one home win, back in August, this season.
"You might think it is a game we should win but far from it," he said.
"I watched Wigan the other week against Arsenal and they played really well (but lost 4-0).
"There are no rules in the Premier League about how results go."
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