Waterford coping well with life in Premier Division
The Blues travel to bottom club UCD having strung together back-to-back wins over Drogheda and St Patrick's Athletic.
But it was the fact that those wins came after a potentially morale-sapping 4-0 defeat by Shelbourne which impressed their manager.
"We didn't expect the Shelbourne game to end up the way it did," McGeough said.
"But the game changes. You can be on top for 43 minutes and find yourself two goals down a minute later. That's the way it goes and it has to be accepted.
"Some of the players were a little bit apprehensive about getting into the Premier Division and that manifested itself in the game against Shelbourne.
The main thing about it though was that we trained a couple of days after that and the buzz was tremendous.
They had learned what they had to do from that game and got it together against Drogheda, and consequently against St Pat's. You have to learn on your feet in this division and they're quick learners."
Despite their recent promotion, McGeough is not content for his side to be also-rans this season.
"It's been a terrific start," he said.
"But I would have hoped to have started this way anyway. My ambition was always to finish in the top four. I'm not a coach who wants to participate for the sake of it.
"We're out to win this thing; every game's competitive and we're out to win them as such. My ambitions are always high and some of the players have realised that and that's why they're playing as well as they are. It's been a very positive response."
McGeough's side travel to Belfield tonight (7.45) to face a UCD side pointless and goalless so far this season. For a Waterford team brimming with confidence the clash presents obvious difficulties for the manager.
"Complacency is certainly one of the things we have to avoid at all costs and I don't think we will approach UCD with any.
"They are a wounded animal at the moment they'll bite back. These are the games where you can hit rock bottom or be sent on to winning ways and obviously we want to continue our winning ways.
"UCD are not to be underrated at all. They are a very capable team with very capable players individually, on the ball. So we'll approach this game in the same way that we did the previous three."
Early pacesetters Shelbourne face injury-hit Drogheda United at O2 Park tonight (8pm).
Shels' winger Ollie Cahill, who suffered a dead leg in the 3-2 victory over Longford Town at Tolka Park on Tuesday is the only injury worryas Shels go for a fourth win out of four.
Drogheda, fresh from their first win of the season on Tuesday night, a 1-0 victory at Derry City, may again have to plan without the injured Aidan Lynch and Pat Scully.
St Pat's, still looking for their first win, will be without midfielder Davy Byrne when they play host to pointless Derry City at Richmond Park (7.45).
Byrne suffered ankle ligament damage in the 4-2 defeat at Waterford United.
Derry will again be without forwards Liam Coyle and Tommy McCallion, both with knee ligament injuries.
In the First Division, unbeaten Finn Harps can go top for 24 hours at least if they beat Monaghan United at Finn Park (8pm).
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