Charlton Athletic needed a late surge of good form at the back-end of 2013-14 to keep their place in the Championship last season, but interim boss Jose Riga wasn't offered an extended contract by the club after keeping the Addicks in the second tier.
Instead, the South London side went for Bob Peeters, sticking with their Belgian links through owner Roland Duchatelet, and the former Millwall player helped them become one of the most dogged teams in the league.
© Getty Images
In fact, Charlton had the longest unbeaten run of anyone - 11 games - to start the season, but it soon petered out and Bob was gone in January after eight league games without a win.
Duchatelet also owns Standard Liege and he brought in their former coach Guy Luzon to steer the club away from the drop zone.
Initially, things didn't go to plan as the Addicks' winless stretch extended to 13 games, but then things appeared to click under Luzon and they won seven out of nine to move back into the top half and way clear of relegation.
In the end, a top-half finish was achieved and that can be viewed as a success.
Five key results
Charlton 3-2 Derby County, August 19, 2014:
© Getty Images
After back-to-back home wins over Colchester United and Wigan Athletic, Charlton's third game in a row at The Valley saw pre-season promotion favourites Derby County visit the capital. Many expected the Addicks' unbeaten start to come to a halt, but they actually moved joint-top of the table with a rousing 3-2 victory to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Derby. The Rams would get their revenge a week later, though, with a last-gasp win in the League Cup second round.
Norwich City 0-1 Charlton, September 30, 2014: Nine games into the season, Charlton were still unbeaten, but they had dropped out of the top six following three draws in a row and up next was a trip to then league leaders Norwich. They had yet to win away from home but produced a fine display, becoming the first team since the opening day to keep Norwich out and stealing the points in the dying stages thanks to captain Johnnie Jackson.
Watford 5-0 Charlton, January 17, 2015: Charlton had appointed Luzon to replace Peeters, but he was unable to take charge at Vicarage Road because of a work permit issue and could only watch on as his new team were dismantled by the Hornets.
© Getty Images
It was the Addicks' 10th game without a win and their fourth defeat in a row. The goals had badly dried up - they had scored just two in their last six - and Luzon appeared to have an almighty task on his hands to wrestle them away from the bottom three.
Charlton 3-0 Brentford, February 14, 2015: Heading into this meeting with fellow Londoners Brentford, Charlton were 13 league games without a win and just three points above the bottom three. Luzon had failed to bring about a victory in his first four games, but that all changed on Valentine's Day. Brentford had won four of their last six and were sitting in the playoff places, but Charlton blew them away at The Valley for three much-needed points.
After ending a three-month wait for a goal the week before in a 3-2 defeat to Norwich, Igor Vetokele bagged again in this one and would make it three in three six days later as Charlton won 3-0 again, this time away at struggling Wigan Athletic.
Charlton 2-1 Nottingham Forest, March 3, 2015:
© Getty Images
Charlton were improving under Luzon, but not at the rate Forest were under their new boss Dougie Freedman. The Scot had guided his new side to five wins and an impressive 19 goals from his first six games in charge. However, their bubble was burst when a double from Frederic Bulot proved enough for a Charlton victory at The Valley, making it four wins in five for the Addicks, who had climbed back into the top half and away from danger.
Best Player - Johann Berg Gudmundsson
Only Vetokele had more goals for Charlton than the Icelandic midfielder, who impressed in his first season in English football with 10 goals from midfield.
He also set up four others and should be expected to improve further in 2015-16 as he is only 24 years old. Charlton tied him to a two-year contract last summer, so he will also want to impress this term so that he can earn a new, more lucrative deal.
Most Improved Player - Jordan Cousins
© Getty Images
The 21-year-old buzzy winger made 47 total appearances, more than any other player, and was last month named the club's Player of the Year.
To be that consistent at the age of 21 is a good sign for Charlton, who might have to fend off Premier League interest in Cousins this summer. Aston Villa, Liverpool and Newcastle United are already said to be circling.
Best Signing - Igor Vetokele
As Gudmundsson won Best Player, he should also be noted here as one of the signings of the season, but Charlton needed a goalscorer after none of their players scored more than eight in 2013-14.
© Getty Images
In the end, Vetokele only managed 11 in 41 appearances. It still made him the club's top marksman and he also provided more assists than any of his teammates over the season. It must have been hard to watch him manage just six goals in eight months after starting the season with five in five games to win the August Player of the Month award, but still a successful first season in England.
Best Goal - Johann Berg Gudmundsson vs. Cardiff City
The Addicks had been behind for 76 minutes at home to Cardiff on Boxing Day when Gudmundsson slid in to win the ball before unleashing an unstoppable piledriver with his left foot from fully 30 yards.
Must Do Better - Callum Harriott
As he is the same age as Cousins, comparisons are often made between the two and Harriott fell behind his teammate in the winger's pecking order this term.
Sometimes careless in possession, Harriott must add maturity to his game in 2015-16, especially as he is out of contract next summer.
End-of-season grade: C
The Addicks were solid and unspectacular under Peeters and his dismissal seemed like the wrong move when Luzon did little to change their fate early on.
However, he managed to get the club scoring - they average 1.5 goals a game under him compared to 0.92 under Peeters - and supporters will hope that as he gradually adapts to English football, Charlton can begin to find more consistency and perhaps make a surprise push for the playoffs.
Fifteen players were released this summer, though, and some, like experienced defender Tal Ben Haim, will be very hard to replace this summer.
Pascal Lemesre
