Wilfried Nancy will have been watching with some relief as academy graduates combined to secure a much-needed win and stay in touch at the top of the league.
More importantly for future prospects, the performance was redolent of some of the early Ange Postecoglou success, with an overwhelming array of chances. The sending off helped, of course, but there were many inklings of shape and cohesion.
Many players seem to be round pegs in this system. The attacking quality gap remains, and this will leave Nancy a hostage to fortune in the short term.
One of those round pegs bagged Bhoy of the Match, and it was promising to see many candidates.
Still many bumps to come, of course, but hopefully most (those without closed minds) can at least see what the plan is.