A year to the day since 18 minutes which signified the end of one era and the start of another, Sabri Lamouchi proved why Nottingham Forest can feel vindicated in their call.
Not that many predicted the Reds would find themselves in this position 12 months later.
No-one could have foreseen the 2019/20 season running into June, for a start. But few also would have backed Lamouchi to oversee quite such progress.
Just 18 minutes passed between confirmation of Martin O’Neill’s departure and Lamouchi’s appointment on June 28, 2019, but what has transpired since puts the two considerably further apart.
That is not a slight on O’Neill, by any means. As well as being a club legend, he also had an impressive managerial CV when he took charge of the Reds.
It just didn’t quite work out for him at the City Ground. At that particular moment, he wasn’t the right fit.
In him, Forest have a head coach who has masterminded their best chance of reaching the Premier League for almost a decade.
He is also set to become the first boss to see out a full campaign at the helm since Billy Davies’ first spell.
Aitor Karanka managed a calendar year. Just. And did look as though he could end the Reds’ Premier League absence, for a time.
But Lamouchi is different. Among the many who have come and gone in recent years, he has put together a squad, instilled a mentality and fostered a team spirit which now has a real shot.
He has gone from ‘Sabri who?’ to ‘Sabri, j’adore’.
And this cool customer marked his one-year anniversary with a handsome 3-1 victory.
It was just a desperate shame no supporters were allowed into the City Ground to celebrate the occasion.
Still, in these strange times, Lamouchi has helped to give them hope.
Three points moved the Reds up to fourth. The gap to the top two still looks difficult to close, but there is now at least a bit of breathing space away from the play-off-chasing pack.
It wasn’t always pretty against the Terriers. Indeed, for a considerable spell in the first half it was quite the opposite.
But the hosts showed their steel; their grit and determination. And they also showed they can play a bit, too.
After Sammy Ameobi had hit the post in the opening five minutes, following good work by Joe Lolley, it was Huddersfield who began to create the better chances.
They had Forest on the back foot.
Brice Samba punched away a well-struck Alex Pritchard free-kick, Ben Watson survived a penalty appeal and Sammy Ameobi somehow - whether he knew much about it or not - cleared off his own line from Karlan Grant.
That their opponents, fighting at the opposite end of the table, were prepared to have a go possibly suited the home side. They have found it tough to break down teams who simply sit back.
Perhaps they could start looking to Joe Worrall when that happens.
More commonly found in his natural habitat of clearing away crosses in his own box, the defender put in a superb one at the other end of the pitch right before half-time.
Expertly curled in, it found Grabban at the far post - and the striker does what he does best. It was a brilliantly executed finish. Perfectly volleyed home.
And he was at it again immediately after the restart.
This time, it was Ameobi who unpicked the lock with another inviting pass. Fifty-five seconds after the second half had got underway, Grabban once again showed his deadly touch and slotted beyond Jonas Lossl.
That took him to 19 for the campaign; on course to become the first Forest forward to hit the 20-goal mark since David Johnson and Marlon Harewood both managed it in 2003.
If his teammates can keep supplying him with chances, there’s no question Grabban will get there.
It is in large part thanks to his impressive haul that a top six finish now looks tantalisingly close.
There is still work to do on that front, and nothing can be taken for granted - this is a huge week ahead, with Bristol City on Wednesday and an East Midlands derby at the weekend.
But there’s a mighty big carrot for the Reds to chase.
Ryan Yates made sure they claimed the three points on Sunday. For someone on the receiving end of a bit of stick, he made a difference at the City Ground - and not just by getting on the end of Lolley’s corner five minutes from time.
It looked as though Lamouchi’s men would also have a clean-sheet to savour - what would have been their first since beating Cardiff City 1-0 in February.
Conceding late goals is a habit they could do with curbing, but there wasn’t too much they could do about this one.
David Webb’s decision to point to the spot for Worrall’s challenge on Fraizer Campbell seemed a little harsh, and Samba had little chance with Grant’s penalty kick.
It came after Huddersfield had seen Juninho Bacuna sent off for a foul on Nuno Da Costa - not that either instance significantly impacted the end result.
It was, Lamouchi said, “a fantastic gift” to celebrate his anniversary. He will hope there may be another - albeit belated - present to come, if promotion can be achieved.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were among the faces imprinted on cardboard cutouts placed in the stands.
On the opposite side of the pitch, however, in the dugout, Forest’s own version of royalty prowled the touchline, overseeing another piece of his masterplan.
