After such a positive week, one that included a party at Anfield and possibly one of the best performances of the season against Peterborough United, Cardiff City were brought down to earth with a bit of a bump at The Den.
Yes, much will be made about the alleged handball incident, but the truth is Cardiff simply weren't at the races, producing a performance that fell flat after the heroics of Wednesday night.
But there was at least one positive for City fans to cling on to.
Joel Bagan hasn't always had the best of times in the capital, but he’s gone a long way to silencing some critics this week, and this was the latest in a series of accomplished performances.
He was named the star man in WalesOnline’s player ratings on Saturday, producing an eye-catching attacking performance that was capped off by a late goal - his first in senior football.
“I thought he was excellent,” boss Steve Morison said when asked for his assessment of the left-back’s performance.
“Especially towards the end of the second half when he started going past people and showing that confidence.
“He gets the goal, and I’m really, really pleased for him.
“He’s had to wait and be patient and I think he’s done very well.”
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‘Confidence’ is a word Morison has used a lot when discussing the Ireland Under-21 international.
Indeed, it’s difficult not to notice how the surge in self-belief the youngster seems to be carrying right now, and it's resulting in some really good performances.
That's not to say it was a flawless showing at The Den, of course.
Some will point out that he was a little too sloppy in possession at times, and his defensive reading of the game still needs some fine-tuning.
But to focus on his shortcomings detracts from the real progress he's made this term.
After breaking through under Mick McCarthy, he saw last season end prematurely on account of a dislocated shoulder, and perhaps allowed his head to drop further than his peers when results were spiralling downwards.
Another shoulder injury probably didn't help matters, but even when he did get out on the pitch, he looked a player sapped of energy and enthusiasm.
Put simply, he didn't look up to it.
Having worked with him in the under-23s set-up, Morison clearly had his own ideas on what was going wrong, and decided to move Ryan Giles into the wing-back role, taking Bagan out of the limelight.
It was a decision that made immediate sense from a footballing perspective, but it's perhaps allowed the youngster to recalibrate, recharge and take stock.
"The reality is he was thrown in at the deep end a little bit," Morison said of Bagan earlier in the season.
"I just think we need to look after him, there is a really good player there. But it won’t do anyone any good if we keep chucking him in and he’s not right where he needs to be.
"It happens with all these young players. They go in, have a taste, they learn what it feels like, what’s needed, then they come out, assess it, learn from it and go and be the best player in the under-23s for a few weeks, come back and have another go.
"All the top teams do it with the young lads. There is a process to it. Now I’m in this position I will manage them in the best possible way."
Clearly a part of that process is to challenge his young players to push themselves. To show more willingness to stray out of their comfort zone and not simply coast through games.
"The message to him is 'We need to see more'," he said ahead of the trip to The Den.
"I don't want to see him, every time he gets the ball, pass it backwards, or just sit in your shape and be safe.
"He's seen two players now, Ryan Giles played in front of him and he can see why he played in front of him, because of his end product, speed and energy going forward.
"Then obviously he saw Alfie (Doughty) come in, it was only two games, but the Nottingham Forest game, straight from the get-go, he was getting it and driving past players."
To go out and grab your first senior goal is a pretty good way of proving that you're up to that challenge, but there's absolutely no room for complacency going forward.
The 20-year-old's recent run in the team has largely come down to Doughty's injury, and there's every chance he could find himself behind the Stoke City loanee in the pecking order again soon.
A bit of competition could do him some good, in fairness.
Clearly, the experience of being behind Giles for so long as proved beneficial in terms of giving him an understanding of what's required in terms of standards and quality.
You certainly wouldn't bet against him forcing his way into contention at this rate.
In fact, one could argue that he's risen to every challenge placed in front of him by Morison so far.
If he keeps it up, there's every chance he could yet blossom into the player we all hoped he would be.
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