They say the sign of a champion is getting something out of a game where the statistics suggest you were outplayed.
It is perhaps too early to hand Middlesbrough the title, but Saturday’s draw with Southampton certainly showed those sort of promotion-winning qualities, even if it ended in a draw.
When speaking on BBC Radio Tees after the game, boss Rob Edwards admitted himself it was a pleasing point against an opposition that led possession and had double the number of chances of his Boro side.
But the performance was an example of Edwards’ patient approach to management overall.
When it was the right time to make changes, he did, and his tactical substitutions changed the game.
And in Kaly Sene, who scored the equaliser for his second goal in as many games off the bench, they can be confident they have strength in depth.
Question is, should Sene keep his super-sub crown, or play from the start in future games?