It perhaps wasn't the greatest match the Premier League has ever witnessed, but Everton's early kick-off with Sunderland this afternoon certainly had its moments. Two, to be precise - a Danny Graham goal and a Jermain Defoe goal - to secure the Black Cats a vital win that could prove just enough to see them avoid relegation.
But it wouldn't mean anything if we did't learn from it, so here's the three things we took from the feisty affair at Goodison Park.
When your luck's in, it's in
When Dick Advocaat proclaimed pre-kick-off that Sunderland couldn't afford to lose today, it became obvious any chance of three points for the Black Cats would have required a significant slice of good fortune.
Well... god, fate, divine intervention, the law of averages - whatever you want to call it - was firmly on their side this afternoon, as the dominant Toffees conceded two goals under the most miraculous of circumstances.
The first came courtesy of Danny Graham, scoring his first goal for Sunderland two and a half years after originally moving to the Stadium of Light. Jordi Gomez launched a shot towards Tim Howard's far right corner only for it to pass through Graham's legs and cannon off his instep into the opposite side of the net.
That was followed by Jermain Defoe's 'effort' on the 85th minute mark. A driving shot across goal ricocheted off the shoulder of a blocking Seamus Coleman into the former England international's chest, then trickling past a helpless Tim Howard.
In a result that has now propelled the Wearsiders to 14th in the Premier League, those fortuitous moments in front of goal may have just spared Sunderland a season in the Championship.
PANTILIMON DESTINED FOR A HIGHER LEVEL
Many were surprised when Costel Pantilimon was drafted in as Sunderland's No.1 at the start of the season despite Vito Mannone's continued heroics during the 2013/14 campaign.
But the Romanian international has undoubtedly justified that decision over the last few months with a string of top-notch performances, and today he produced vital displays to keep Sunderland in the match as Everton piled on the pressure.
He made four crucial saves this afternoon and particularly impressed when closing down Toffees front-man Romelu Lukaku. That saw the 28 year-old claim his ninth clean sheet in 26 Premier League outings, leaving him joint-eighth in the division's shut-out charts - not bad considering Sunderland have won just seven games all season.
Whether or not Sunderland beat the drop come the end of May, in my opinion, the former Manchester City understudy should be testing himself at a higher level next term.
Another disturbing performance from Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku is undoubtedly one of the most promising talents in the Premier League but he just hasn't shown it since joining Everton permanently for a club-record £28million last summer.
Although 19 goals in all competitions is nothing to be sniffed at for 21-year old still developing his skills, the former Chelsea prodigy is a long way shy of replicating the talismanic displays from his loan spell at Goodison Park last term, and appears completely opposed to putting his physically imposing 6 foot 3 frame to good use.
Scoreless against Sunderland, today's performance was yet another abject one to add to his ever-increasing collection. Needless to say, Everton fans on Twitter weren't particularly impressed: