Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate believes the point at Reading could yet prove crucial despite the 1-1 draw failing to prevent his side slipping into the Premier League drop zone.
Boro were sucked into the bottom three for the first time in more than three years after Sunderland's stoppage-time winner against Derby saw them leapfrog their north-east rivals.
But Southgate, who has enjoyed the backing of famously-patient chairman Steve Gibson despite more than three months without a win, refused to be too downcast over the outcome of today's fixtures.
"We've slipped a place today but it was still a very important point for us," he said.
Indeed, although Boro deserved a draw, it could have been much worse for Southgate and is troops after Dave Kitson lobbed Reading ahead early in the second half.
But the manager must take credit for his substitions, which paid off in spectacular fashion when summer signing Tuncay Sanli netted his first goal in English football with an unerring header six minutes from time.
"It's a poor goal that we conceded but at least we had the character to dig in and keep going forward and I think we've got the reward," Southgate added.
"We might have pinched it at the end but I certainly think we were good value for a point."
Despite a lack of quality throughout that largely manifested itself through both sides giving the ball away, there was attacking intent from both teams.
"Both of us want to play attacking football," said Southgate.
"We felt with the personnel we had available, let's have a go at it.
"We just weren't able to add the finishing touch in the first half or that extra bit of quality around the penalty area.
"In the position we're in, we at least gave a performance that was healthy in its endeavour, its character."
He added: "From 1-0 down, yes, but at no other point in the game did I think we were going to lose it.
"I'm not relieved. I'm disappointed we've given ourselves a lead to claw back again."
Southgate was pleased to see Tuncay break his duck for the club, saying: "He's been desperate to get that first goal, took it really well and he's actually disappointed he didn't get the winner."
He was also glowing about the performance of rookie goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, who was almost faultless in only his third Premier League appearance for the club and first for 18 months.
Southgate said: "For somebody who has not played for the first team in a league game for a couple of years, I thought he was commanding of his penalty area, which was pleasing."
Opposite number Steve Coppell was disappointed with the manner of Middlesbrough's equaliser.
He said: "You've got to depend on your defensive aspect of the game to be sufficient to carry you through.
"I still felt we were going to be a threat going forward but it was a poor goal for us to concede.
"Defenders should deal with that."
Coppell was more than pleased with Kitson's opener, however.
"He's got quality. He was the one person in the first half. The couple of strikes he had were significant. He's important for us."
Coppell had no problem with the heated confrontation between goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and defender Ibrahima Sonko after a miscommunication at the back over a Boro cross almost saw red faces all round.
"There was a misunderstanding," Coppell said.
"A ball came through, it was in no man's land.
"In a way, it shows they care. At this stage of the season, that game had been built up as one we should win.
"The altercation shows they're passionate about what they do.
"I've got no problems with that."