If ever a match typified the contrasting methods of two football clubs, the South Wales derby was it.
Swansea City were once again a team with absolute clarity, a unity, a process, and, most crucially of all, a direction. As for Cardiff City - who have now suffered three defeats in a row against their bitter rivals - a 2-0 loss raised even more concerns and questions.
A club who hit the panic button just 10 games into a new project now find themselves in an even worse position for having made the bold decision to swiftly abandon their process when the going got even remotely tricky.
The Swans won just one of their first eight league fixtures under the current coaching staff last season, and there were grim capitulations against the likes of Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Stoke City to endure.
Added to that, commanding leads against Reading and Bournemouth in the latter stages of Russell Martin's debut campaign were thrown away to typify what was ultimately a bruising transitional season. But the difference has been blindingly obvious.
Never once did the club's coaching staff discard their principles while, even during the most frustrating of spells, the ownership group remained intent of affording Martin the most precious commodity of all. Time.
One win in eight matches in all competitions from the outset of the 2022/23 season understandably had the Jack Army concerned, but, even then, the performances were drastically better than they were at the same stage last term. It ensured the tide was always going to turn at some point.
Few could have predicted the radical turnaround in results, with victory over Mark Hudson's side being Swansea's sixth success in seven outings which leaves them in fourth, their highest position under the current regime.
An array of different ingredients have contributed to the overall improvement during the course of Martin's 15 months in charge to date. Their league-high of 10 points gained from losing positions this season is only four off what they managed in the whole of last term while also being testimony to the character of the players and their belief in the system.
They already have double the amount of set-piece goals they managed in the whole of the 2021/22 league campaign and are proving they are capable of competing on every occasion when it comes to the relentless grind of the second tier.
Norwich City (Daniel Farke), Huddersfield Town (Carlos Corberan) and Luton Town (Nathan Jones) are prime examples of Championship clubs enjoying success having stuck with their managers through sticky spells in recent seasons.
It's why Swansea can now - whether they like it or not - consider themselves as genuine top-six contenders this season. Of course, those on the Fairwood training ground each and every day will play down talk of achieving something special this term, understandably so.
Bad results will undoubtedly happen from time to time while injuries and suspensions will almost certainly play a role at some stage. But with Ryan Manning, Joel Piroe, Jamie Paterson and Joe Allen still to return to action, Swansea's squad will only get stronger before the World Cup break.
A month off following the clash with Huddersfield on November 12 will give the players the opportunity to rest up before ploughing straight back into the crucial work that will help guide them through the festive and new year period, a time in which the Swans hope to bolster their options by delving into the January transfer window.
Still able to boast a 100 per cent record of three wins from three in fixtures against Cardiff, head coach Martin put the club's situation and journey best when facing the media after the 2-0 success over their neighbours.
"We spoke about it in a recent fans' forum, we either buy or we build," he explained. "We are trying to build. I've been really keen to stress to everyone when I first came in that it's going to take time.
"I think from day one we set out with a clear plan and you could see the vision for the team. We are starting to really reap some rewards now with the patience everyone has shown.
"Everyone is starting to enjoy the identity of the team and the connection. The fact that it's improved is just down to time. I just got asked a minute ago, 'After the Hull game, what was the switch?' There's no switch. It wasn't just a case of saying, 'Lads, let's just be really good now and win loads of games'.
"It's not how it happens. It's about time, patience and understanding and more importantly, focusing on people and performance rather than the outcome. Because if you become obsessed about the outcome and results, speaking from personal experience as a player, it's really difficult to go through that."
Incredible things can happen when a club is united in pulling towards the same goal. Those are traits the Swans have in abundance at present, and, when you consider the quality in their ranks, there is no reason why Martin's side can't be challenging at the business end of the table come May 2023 as a result of their willingness to trust in the process.
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