The nature of Middlesbrough's battling for a point at Burnley to prove they can more than mix it with the division's best on Friday evening wasn't the only positive to take from the game.
Key duo George Edmundson and Ben Doak also made it through the game unscathed from a disciplinary viewpoint to hand Michael Carrick a huge selection boost ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Leeds United. Friday's game at Burnley was Boro's 19th game and therefore the cutoff point for which picking up five yellow cards results in a one-match suspension.
The Boro loan duo had both gone into the Burnley game with four yellows and at risk of missing another tough clash with promotion rivals at Leeds on Tuesday. Edmundson managed to avoid the fifth yellow through Boro's last three games, while Liverpool prospect Doak carefully negotiated five games to avoid the suspension.
Boro also have Finn Azaz, Hayden Hackney and Neto Borges on three yellow cards. But the good news is that the threshold for yellow-card-accumulation suspensions has been increased to ten games now. Championship players must now avoid reaching ten until after the 32nd game - with such an offence carrying a two-match suspension.
As things stand for Boro, barring any schedule changes or postponements, Boro's 32nd game is on Wednesday, February 12 away to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. With 12 games to play before that trip, Carrick will be hoping his players tread carefully to avoid any costly absences.
While Dael Fry's return has improved defensive options for Carrick, Edmundson's season continues to go from strength to strength as he enjoys a solid run at the heart of the Boro defence despite initially being signed as a backup option in the face of mounting defensive injuries.
Doak, meanwhile, has proven instrumental for Carrick's side and their climb up the Championship table and into the top six. Though Boro do have Isaiah Jones and Marcus Forss also competing for the right-wing berth, Doak's form has cemented his place in the Boro attack, and they will be relieved they won't have to be without him in such a key game on Tuesday evening.