Everton's fight for Premier League survival has been dominated by the actions of familiar heroes.
There has been Jordan Pickford and his outrageous saves against Manchester United and Chelsea.
There has been Richarlison, and his vital goals against Leicester City, Burnley and elsewhere.
And there have been the supporters - whose passion, whose desire and whose dedication today provided the soundtrack for a remarkable victory against Leicester City. Time and time again they have lifted the Blues from the pits of despair.
But, quietly, in recent weeks, a new protagonist has grown in stature, his improving performances an underlying factor in Everton's refusal to sink into the Championship without a fight.
PLAYER RATINGS: Everton player ratings as Pickford top drawer but seven others superb
READ MORE: Leeds United lose key player in relegation battle after red card
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Everton players after 2-1 win away to Leicester
Vitalii Mykolenko could not have endured a more difficult arrival on Merseyside. After the invasion of the Ukraine star's homeland no-one could have questioned him had he not played again this season. There is more to life than football.
He has chosen, valiantly, to carry on and, in doing so, played a crucial role in the club's ongoing battle for safety.
His bravery and determination had already earned the adoration of Everton supporters. It felt, however, as though he just needed a crowning moment to signal to the world his elevation in status at Goodison Park.
The 22-year-old came so close to that at home to Chelsea. In the immediate aftermath of Richarlison's opener the ball fell to him, in space, but rather than ease the tension of an anxiety-ridden home crowd his shot flared high and wide.
The miss did not prove costly but his disappointment would likely have remained. Now, it is consigned to the past.
When Alex Iwobi's cross fell to the defender 20 yards from goal, few expected what followed. Mykolenko's first-time, left footed volley sailed past a diving Kasper Schmeichel and into the net, sending a shocked away crowd wild. In a relegation fight recently dominated by highlight-worthy, match-winning and match-saving 'moments', this was another one. Another unforgettable piece of magic in what has been a season few Blues will want to remember.
Against the backdrop of everything Mykolenko has been through, it was no more than he deserved.
It quickly threatened to be undermined.
While the stadium was shrouded in blue smoke and fizzing to the soundtrack of 3,339 jubilant travelling supporters, Everton almost doubled their lead through Abdoulaye Doucoure. That would have been too straightforward for this side, however.
Twice they were warned in the opening 10 minutes. First they were saved by a sliding clearance from Yerry Mina after Patson Daka slotted past Jordan Pickford and then Kelechi Iheanacho forced Pickford into a low save - though the linesman later flagged for a narrow offside.
But, as the visiting thousands were celebrating Mykolenko's wondergoal, that old enemy of this season reared its ugly head as a mistake allowed the hosts to level. Mina and Seamus Coleman collided as a looping, deflected high ball dropped 30 yards out and Daka pounced on the loose ball and fired past Pickford. It was an all-too-familiar tale of errors and misfortune and was almost replicated seconds later when, this time, Mina and Mason Holgate crashed into each other while trying to deal with another high ball. That drama went unpunished.
It was too much for Mina. The return of the dominant centre back has galvanised the Blues following his comeback from a lengthy injury in the reverse fixture last month. The big question heading into five games in 14 days that will decide Everton's Premier League status was whether he could play in back-to-back matches. He lasted just 16 minutes of the first of that run, having to be replaced by Michael Keane.
In the following 20 minutes Leicester probed at Everton, dominating possession and playing around their midfield. The hosts had looked the more threatening when, on the half-hour mark, Anthony Gordon chased down a lost cause and won a corner. Demarai Gray - part of Leicester's title winning squad - was greeted by boos and applause from home fans who were then silenced. His cross was headed goalwards by Richarlison, Schmeichel pawing it clear but only into the path of Holgate, who headed into the roof of the net.
For the second time in 30 minutes Everton were out of the relegation zone. This time, they were able to maintain composure, if not control. Two powers dominated the rest of the first half - Leicester's midfield and Everton's supporters. The Foxes probed, unsuccessfully, to the sound of the raucous, sold out, away end.
A neutral could have been forgiven for thinking Everton were the side whose safety was guaranteed, who had flirted with Europe and stocked up their trophy cabinet in recent years. Instead, they find themselves on the brink of the unthinkable. Looking - and listening - at the scenes in the away section, you would not have been able to tell as the Blues supporters delivered again, just like they did at Goodison Park last week and at Finch Farm on Saturday as the players left for this match.
The second half was frantic and frenetic as Leicester fought for an equaliser. They posed a threat - Pickford producing three more big saves to add to his impressive recent collection. Yet their attacks fizzled out as the game wore on. Everton were a danger on the break, but unable to land a knockout blow. As the two cancelled each other out the most powerful force in the stadium was that travelling crowd that had endured a miserable wait for success.
On Sunday they finally got the reward they deserved. Everton, in a game that meant so much, secured their first away win since August and their first points on the road under Frank Lampard. Crucially, they are points that make their Premier League safety look that little bit more likely.
They are also points that, after the initial shock of Daka's equaliser, made Mykolenko's strike all that more meaningful.
Against the backdrop of everything he has been through, he deserved that strike to matter. And it really, really does.
