Matt Pickens earned his 10th clean sheet of the season Saturday while Marcel Schafer scored two goals in the Rowdies 3-0 routing of Cincinnati in Tampa Bay’s first playoff match since winning the North American Soccer League’s Soccer Bowl in 2012.

Alright, I’ll admit it. I wasn’t able to actually go to the match on Saturday. Fourth match I’ve missed since 2010; second this season. But while my band was entertaining 10’s of people in a small venue in Tampa, I watched the Rowdies play one of their most cohesive wins since Stu Campbell has taken the over at the helm in 2015.

Campbell has always had a plan, and likes to stick to it. He’s also got a knack for keeping his team motivated after difficult first halves. Of Tampa Bay’s 50 goals scored in the USL season this year, 25 of them came after the mid-match break. He’s not one to divulge locker room talks or atmospheres behind close doors, but his success is evident both his skill as a coach and tactical talent.

It may have taken Campbell some time to get the personnel he was in search of on the field, but his line ups became consistently productive with the addition of Martin Paterson and break out performances by Alex Morrell, and veteran leadership of Georgi Hristov, Marcel Schafer, and Joe Cole.

The addition of Sebastian Guenzatti in Saturday’s line up and the shear consistency of the defense, despite losing Damian Lowe earlier this year, has been divine grace of goal-stopping power.

This season has become the most successful season for Tampa Bay since Campbell played on the pitch himself, but now in charge on the sidelines, does he have what it takes to bring the team to the top?

Campbell has flaunted his ability to mix up not only line ups but tactics as well. His 4-3-3 formation, which he experimented with midway through the season, was successfully employed in big wins in Cincinnati, kicking off a five-match unbeaten run through July to August.

Saturday’s match was variation of that, with Hristov and Walter Restrepo on the flanks while Guenzatti took his place up at the top. Joe Cole played behind the striker to add offensive prowess, while Schafer and Martin Vigaard played in tandem in the middle, giving Schafer the freedom to do what he does best.

Campbell is well aware of the caliber of players he has at his disposal. He’s had the luxury to take time to adjust roles, giving him many options in his back pocket. His experience as a captain and caretaker boss at Bristol Rovers combined with his experience gained in Tampa Bay should instill confidence in every Rowdies fan and player ahead of next week’s match up against defending champions, New York.