AS Everton's turbulent season hit another high, supporters will no doubt be bracing themselves for the fall.
Saturday's richly deserved victory over Newcastle United warrants celebration but Evertonians have suffered too many false dawns this campaign to get carried away.
Having been tortured in midweek, the Goodison Park faithful must enjoy this victory for sure but will be preparing for the worst when Birmingham City roll into town on Wednesday night – it has been such an exasperating period of inconsistency.
Such a mindset is a shame, but a sign of the times when an encouraging display is so often followed by something dismal.
The weekend's win at St James' Park – one borne out of graft and determination – goes some way to helping Everton claw back dignity having plummeted to new lows against Reading, but the royal blue faithful will need to see much more before they fully forgive the FA Cup fall.
With this in mind, Everton knew they would have to deliver something special to start appeasing the frustrations.
Though the performance was a near ideal away offering – full of heart in defence and menace in attacking on the break – there are of course still limitations to Everton's play.
But goals from a resurgent Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka – that garnered a first win at the home of Newcastle United since 2000, when Kevin Campbell struck the winner in a 1-0 triumph – certainly sweetened the deal as Everton looked to make amends.
That season, Walter Smith's men finished 16th, fending off relegation with 42 points and watching Manchester City drop to the second tier of the English game.
The hope of course remains David Moyes' men do not find themselves in such a perilous position at the end of this campaign, but Saturday did reinforce that expectations can not go a great deal higher for the time being.
Life without Marouane Fellaini – and the use of Tim Cahill – was not terrifying but an eye opener and hammered home the assertions of Moyes just 24 hours previous – Everton are not in the position of strength they were 12 months ago.
For now, and as painful as it is to swallow, ambitions may have to be modest, especially given the list of those on the Finch Farm injury list now includes captain Phil Neville.
Neville's early second half withdrawal with a hamstring strain was the second knock he sustained on Saturday afternoon.
The sides started the day with the dubious distinction of having committed more fouls than any other sides in the Premier League and the Everton skipper felt the full force of infringement number 373 from Newcastle as Cheik Tiote inadvertently left a rib shattering elbow in an aerial collision.
