Newcastle United may not have been able to live with Manchester City's frontline in Friday night's 4-3 home defeat against Pep Guardiola's men, but they proved that possession isn't everything.
A startling fact emerged after the game for the Magpies with their 17.7% possession the lowest ever for a side that have scored three goals in a Premier League match since Opta records began in 2003.
It also showed the formula that United should be striving for going forward as they played with a defensive shape but showed how dangerous they can be with the players they have on the counter-attack.
If Newcastle's coaching staff can get this right next season, they can not only deliver results, like they did at FA Cup winners Leicester, the week before but also, dare I say it, entertain fans a little bit more.
It wasn't exactly Kevin Keegan's Entertainers, but given the effort and determination of the players, it's fair to suggest the players would have been clapped off against City.
The fact that Joe Willock fell to the ground with exhaustion and devastation summed up what Newcastle fans love to see from their players.
Steve Bruce's consistent message on Joe Willock
The Toon boss has made it clear that Newcastle United are keen to re-sign Willock this summer.
Suggestions from the Arsenal end are now churning out an asking price of £30million, but Newcastle are in a good place to begin the negotiations.
And if Arsenal wanted to retain Willock and then observe him on loan, Newcastle would surely be at the front of the queue.
After Willock had netted at the second attempt following a penalty save against City, Bruce said: "We have to respect that Joe is Arsenal's player but if it's possible we'd love to keep him."
Swede dreams are made of this
Emil Krafth's first-half header was the Sweden international's first goal for the club against Man City and in finding the net he joined an exclusive club.
Indeed, none of his fellow countrymen had scored for Newcastle since the late 1990s.
You'd have to go back to Andreas Andersson, the former AC Milan striker, in order to find the last man from Sweden to score for the black and whites.
Pep Guardiola's admiration for Newcastle United
Guardiola had shown his class in the Press conference by showing his gratitude to the Magpies on a night in which they were given a guard of honour before the game.
After his Press duties, he simply said: "Thank you Newcastle" following his last question.
His tactical analysis of United was also quite complementary, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said: "Newcastle are so, so fast on the counter.
"A tough, tough opponent.
"Even with that we attacked good in the pockets but we conceded three goals in set pieces and we have to improve that."
