Leicester Tigers No.8 Jordan Crane believes the victory over Ulster in the Champions Cup shows the club are finally turning the corner after their poor start to the season.
Tigers got their European campaign off to a flying start at Welford Road in what Crane believes was their best performance so far.
That made it back-to-back wins for Tigers following the Premiership victory over Harlequins, ending a run of three games that included an embarrassing 45-0 defeat at Bath, being turned over on their own turf by London Irish, and followed by defeat at the hands of Gloucester.
Compounded by their vast injury list, it led to some critics to call the culture of the club into question, from its training methods to its recruitment policy.
"It is tough when you are reading stuff saying that perhaps we are not doing the right thing," said Crane. "We are a club that has always believed in what we do.
"We stuck to our guns and said, 'No, what we are doing is right', even with people throwing mud at it.
"It's up to us. You are only going to succeed if everyone believes in what we are doing. We have got that.
"Hopefully, we have come out the other side stronger from that little period.
"When then guys start coming back from injury, we will be even stronger. For the young guys, too, it has been a tough lesson but a good one."
Tigers had returned to winning ways with a gritty, kick-heavy victory in the rain against Harlequins, before flying out of the blocks against Ulster on Saturday, scoring three tries in the first 15 minutes.
"I think the Quins game gave us a real shot in the arm to say we are a good squad," said Crane.
"We went out against Ulster with that boost of confidence and we really took it to them.
"We started really well, were dynamic at the ruck and got quick ball. When we are like that, teams can't deal with us.
"It is the blueprint of how we need to start games in the future."
Tigers travel to Scarlets this weekend for their second Champions Cup pool game and Crane said it is imperative they maintain their current momentum in South Wales.
"Wins do make the camp a better place to be around," he said.
"But the best thing is we have stayed positive throughout.
"We kept positive, kept working, training hard and no one felt sorry for themselves.
"It was just, 'Look, we are good enough we just need to ride this hump and turn it around'.
"We have done that the last two weeks. If we don't perform at the weekend, then it's pretty much all for nothing."
