Everton's draw with Fulham provided reasons for positivity, frustration and anger for Frank Lampard and the travelling Blues fans.
This was a much better display than the toothless performance at Newcastle United and defeat at Tottenham Hotspur - Everton were able to test home keeper Bernd Leno this time and did create chances. It was also another example of the resilience that runs through this side. This was a clean sheet against a free-scoring side in good form, and one that was built on the heroics of Jordan Pickford and the bravery of Vitalii Mykolenko, Conor Coady and James Tarkowski in particular.
But Everton still have issues with creativity, intensity and being able to grasp control of a game - all of which came to the fore on Saturday evening. The astonishing decision not to send Aleksander Mitrovic off for his ugly challenge on Idrissa Gueye is a justified source of anger and had VAR intervened the complexion of the game would have been vastly different.
Put simply, this was another game in which there were signs of progress, but in which the squad's limitations were also on show - and for all the positive steps clearly being made under Lampard, they are not being made so quickly that Everton can easily overcome their opposition when big decisions going against them.
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Lampard made clear he was not sold on the performance and had issues to analyse back at Finch Farm and so is clearly aware improvement is still required. Yet for all the frustration, the result and display still need to be put in their wider context.
Everton narrowly avoided relegation last season and the rebuilding job is likely to stretch over several transfer windows. The summer was a good one for the Blues and while goals are still lacking - and that was, to some degree predictable - the resilience and strength of the defence and the creation of a functioning midfield should not be overlooked. This was yet another game that, last season, Everton would likely have gone on to have lost. The setback of the red card controversy, or the dominance Fulham enjoyed during a spell in which they forced Jordan Pickford into two huge saves, were the type of scenarios that would overwhelm Everton last season.
On this occasion, they survived then grew back into the game and, for all of Fulham's effort in the second half, they failed to create a clear cut chance to win the game. Looking around the Premier League table it is clear this is going to be an intriguing season. So many clubs are battling demons - from poor form to goals to clean sheets and manager searches. Everton have their issues but it does feel like they are on an upward trajectory. As frustrating as it is that that means accepting a point at a newly-promoted side is a step forward, it is points like the one earned last night that could be vital to ensuring Everton avoid being dragged down towards a struggle this season. Games like that were lost last year, and that is why Everton needed to wait until the penultimate game to prove they were worthy of staying in the Premier League.
If Lampard's project is a long-term success then Everton will eventually go to grounds like Craven Cottage expecting to win. But in order to get to that point, not losing is a useful first step.
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