They say the sign of a champion is getting something out of a game where the statistics suggest you were outplayed.
It is perhaps too early to hand Middlesbrough the title, but Saturday's draw with Southampton certainly showed those sort of promotion-winning qualities, even if it ended in a draw.
When speaking on BBC Radio Tees after the game, boss Rob Edwards admitted himself it was a pleasing point against an opposition that led possession and had double the number of chances of his Boro side.
But the performance was an example of Edwards' patient approach to management overall.