Everton were disappointing at Old Trafford and, while Amadou Onana and Ellis Simms had good chances with the game goalless, the final score could have been far worse than 2-0.
Perspective is crucial as Sean Dyche’s unbeaten run came to an end. The season will not be defined by this trip to Manchester United, Jordan Pickford was sensational and Dyche may have found out some more useful lessons about his squad as he was forced into experimentation.
It would be difficult to use this match to say he found the answer to his most pressing question - how to deal without the suspended Abdoulaye Doucoure. But through Pickford's resilience and the away support's inspirational relentlessness, this trip did make clear there were at least two important factors he could count on.
