Newcastle United don't have to be at their most convincing in their upcoming Championship fixture against Reading, they just need to win it.
After starting the season in a way nobody predicted, with two losses from their opening two games, the Magpies are staring down the barrel a little bit. And Jaap Stam's men intend to pull the trigger on Wednesday night.
Rafa Benitez would have expected better from his troops against Fulham and Huddersfield Town, but now is the time for him to put all that right with three much needed points against the Royals.
At this early stage of the campaign, getting the first win is more important than playing with any great style or panache. Infact, most Toon fans would take a scrappy 1-0 win with the goal scored off the arse of Dwight Gayle if it meant breaking their duck.
The season is long and Benitez will have a lot of time to work with the squad and get them playing the way he truly wants them to, but some cold realism is also required at this point. United simply have to be promoted and they have to start earning points.
For many, this game will be their introduction to the whirlwind cycle of Championship football. There is simply no time for introspection and wound licking. Lose on the Saturday? You sure as hell better be ready to put that right on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Confidence will grow if Newcastle beat Reading, even if they manage to do so from a lucky goal and a poor match. It will be as if a tension valve has been released over the whole city and everyone will feel better for it.
In turn, it could lead to giving the players more confidence, which will help Benitez to realise his ambitions on the pitch. It will also help to cut out small mistakes and sharpen the shooting boots of the Magpies' misfiring forwards.
However, another loss will just lead more questions and more fan polls about whether or not Geordies still trust Benitez. The points must come first, the style can wait until the dust has settled.