Conceding a late equaliser against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night elicited an understandable feeling of frustration for Manchester United, with Michael Olise's second-half injury time free-kick proving unstoppable for David de Gea.
The feeling was unpleasant, but in some ways, it felt unfamiliar.
Dejection was a rife emotion for United last season - to the extent that there was often a descendance into numbness. However, after drawing with Palace, there was a different type of disappointment.
This was disappointment at the fact that a nine-match winning run was curtailed. It was disappointment at a missed opportunity to extend to eight points clear of fifth-place with a game in hand and remain only one point behind second-place Manchester City.
It was, by all accounts, a sense of disappointment testament to the progress that has been made under Erik ten Hag. Last season, even being inside the top four was an alien prospect: United finished 13 points adrift of fourth-place come the end of the campaign.
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It wasn't all doom and gloom at Selhurst Park for United anyway.
Where they may have formerly become frustrated, Ten Hag's side displayed poise with the game goalless for the majority of the first half. There was an air of assurance, which created a sense of inevitability that United would find a way to breach the opposing defence.
And that proved the case.
There were occasions where United seemed to be forcing the issue, with some speculative attempts at goal. But, on the stroke of half-time, after a period of problem-solving amid domination of possession, they broke the deadlock with a fluent move that is becoming part of their repertoire testament to improved tactical drilling.
United exploited space well through Christian Eriksen's give-and-go with Marcus Rashford, with the latter playing an incisive pass following an attentive run from the former. Eriksen then showed his classic awareness to cut the ball back to Bruno Fernandes, who almost seemed to make time stop before producing a composed finish.
Eriksen is now on nine assists for the season in all competitions, and continues to keep things ticking from midfield. He also shows endeavour, once tracking back to deny a Wilfried Zaha drive against Palace.
Encouragement could also be drawn from United's continued threat in transition. Wout Weghorst, despite fears of ungainliness, proved his adeptness to counter-attacking situations on his debut.
Weghorst served his purpose amid Anthony Martial's absence through injury. He was able to link play and fit into established patterns, with his off-ball work also noteworthy; his pressing ability is one element, while his movement when United were in possession was also effective.
Weghorst dragged three Palace players towards the goal in the build-up to United taking the lead, creating a gap for Eriksen to cut the ball into and for Fernandes to run into and score from. At six-foot-six, his presence alone is unsettling for defenders due to the threat of crosses both low and in the air.
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United have largely improved in terms of consolidating leads this term, but they did grow insecure in possession come the second-half against Palace, seeming to invite pressure from their opposition at times while struggling to supply Weghorst, who was withdrawn around the 70-minute mark.
Even minutes before taking the lead at the end of the first-half, United had to rely on an in-form De Gea to make one of his best ever trademark acrobatic saves after a looping effort from Odsonne Edouard from the edge of the penalty area.
The invitation of pressure did at least outline United's defensive solidity. They allowed very few clear-cut chances after United took the lead, with the dynamic between Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez reestablished for the first time since the World Cup.
Martinez is tenacious and combative, while Varane offers himself as a composed presence able to sweep up when there is danger.
In front of the defence, Casemiro proved able to cut out danger on a frequent basis; he consistently breaks up possession more than anyone, making a vast number of tackles, interceptions and recoveries, while showing strength in duels.
Casemiro's aggression has proven a virtue for United, but he was placed in a perilous position by the fact picking up a yellow card would rule him out of the weekend meeting with league-leaders Arsenal.
On the 80-minute mark, the dreaded moment came, and Casemiro picked up a booking for an overzealous challenge to deny a Palace opportunity. A glare from Casemiro towards Fernandes displayed the Brazilian's view, with the foul likely necessary to deny a Palace advancement following a turnover that Fernandes was culpable for.
Ten Hag could have withdrawn Casemiro, or not played him at all. But his performance, aside from the caution, was evidence that United may have struggled without the security he offers. That's just why it is big blow that he will be absent from the trip to North London on Sunday.
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Coincidentally or not, life seemed to be sucked out of the United ranks after Casemiro's booking. Palace continued to probe, and Olise's quite remarkable free-kick in added time was punishment for United's seeming complacency as much as reward for Palace's persistence.
United's game management was poor after taking the lead. Their intensity diminished - possibly fatigue-induced - and only seemed to return once they had conceded the late equaliser. At that point, opening up almost cost them the game. If it wasn't for Aaron Wan-Bissaka's last-ditch challenge on Zaha, United could have left the capital empty-handed.
Wan-Bissaka produced one of his most complete performances in a United shirt - much more assured in possession and positionally more disciplined. He still has an excellent tackling ability too. "He's the only one who can do that scoop tackle," Zaha told Sky Sports post-match.
There was a feeling that United could have had a penalty for an alleged foul on substitute Scott McTominay while they still held a 1-0 lead, although it was 'one of those' that probably wouldn't be overturned in either case of being given or not.
United didn't do enough in the second-half to warrant winning anyway. Their performance was flat and creation lacked.
But Selhurst Park is always a tough place to visit, and it is natural for all sides to drop points where they probably shouldn't at some stage. This is pertinent for United, with bumps and slip-ups always bound to be a part of such a rebuild - no matter of progress already made.
People can't allow themselves to get carried away with the progress that has been made and title talk. Initial goals - to make the top four and win a trophy - have to be remembered. Anything more was always going to be a bonus, and the fact United have been mentioned in the same breath as a title is hugely positive.
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Perspective is important.
There is no point dwelling on the fact a nine-game winning run has come to an end, instead it is important to focus on the development marked by the fact it happened. Plus, United are still securely inside the top four and beat Manchester City less than a week ago.
It is a shame that a tough game against Arsenal comes next for United, but defeat at the Emirates Stadium would be by no means catastrophic and momentum shouldn't be hit if United do fall foul to the side heading the Premier League.
Ten Hag's side have been widely regarded as the country's most in-form team of late, and their newfound resilience should see blips like against Palace overcome relatively easily.
There is no need to fret - slip-ups are all part of the process. There remain positives even amid disappointment.
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