Rovers have come from being in danger of the drop to just six points away from a play-off place and that could improve if they could upset the form book again tonight when they take on Hull City.
Just a few days ago, Rovers went to the Emirates Stadium and knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup on their own patch and that along with taking seven points from the last nine available has put Appleton's men on something of a high.
"If you're winning games of football you don't particularly feel as tired as you would do if you were losing games," Appleton told reporters.
"I think it becomes a mindset. You've only got to look at Reading last year and the run they had.
"Going into the Derby game in the fourth round it was only my third game in charge and we'd just conceded a goal in the 98th minute (to draw 1-1) against Brighton at home.
"We knew it could be a big result for us and we wanted to win the game and since then we've gone on a great run so, in a way, the FA Cup has helped us.
"It was almost a catalyst for everything that's been good about the side over the last four weeks."
