To see yesterday's training session...

Mitchell was re-signed last month despite a rocky start to the season and that was key to turning around the club's fortunes, he said.

"I think part of the scenario was extending my contract and making sure I was going to be here," he added. "There were quite a few players who weren't sure.

"The contract was running out but it's nailed on now and I'm actually here and will be directing things for the next two years.

"I think that's calmed everyone down."

Mitchell also echoed Fulham FC Boss Roy Hodgson's comments who spoke out about Adrian Leijer's Olyroo campaign at Beijing and returning to the UK in poor shape.

"We had quite a few players that came back from the Olympics that weren't performing, but now they are doing well," said Mitchell. "The team's just blended."

Mitchell also identified a run of injuries early in the season that allowed them to ship goals against while wracking up goals for with the two second highest scorers in the league, Eugene Dadi and Nikita Rukavytsya.

"Our pre-season was a fantastic pre-season but we had Hayden Foxe and Jamie Harnwell then who went down injured," he said.

"These guys are leaders but we didn't have them at the start of the season so we were playing some inexperienced players and it wasn't gelling that well.

"We had a lot of problems and lost our confidence then things started to snowball a little bit.

"But we are set up now to be playing well and doing well."

He added: "Most other teams have steady defenders but we've had David Tarka been out injured, Djulbic was out for five weeks, Foxey's been out...

"We haven't had a steady back four but just recently our back four have been playing well and they've been a lot steadier because they've continued to play together.

"There's not been that variation of who's playing. That's been a bit difficult but everything's looking really good now."

Now Mitchell is looking for a period of calm ahead.

Mitchell added: "I think that's what the club wanted by re-appointing me - a bit of stability, foresight and moving forward."

To see yesterday's training session...