Sir Alex Ferguson was in the Goodison Park directors' box to see Paul Ince make a winning start to his Premier League managerial career on Saturday as Blackburn won a 3-2 thriller over Everton.
Ferguson no doubt taught Ince a few things about true grit when he played under the Scot at Old Trafford - and the protege seems to have implanted that spirit into a Blackburn side which was supposedly at odds with its new manager.
Rovers won with a goal from defender Andre Ooijer four minutes into injury time.
They had led through David Dunn, before Mikel Arteta equalised for Everton with a fine free-kick in first-half injury-time.
When Ayegbeni Yakubu put Everton ahead, it looked as if the hosts were going to grab the points. But Roque Santa Cruz and then Dutchman Ooijer had different ideas.
Everton gave a first-team debut to 17-year-old midfielder Jack Rodwell, a glut of injuries and a failure to sign a single new player this summer narrowing manager David Moyes' options. He also had six youngsters on the bench.
Ince left striker Benni McCarthy on the bench and gave a club debut to former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Santa Cruz, a possible departure before the transfer window closes, played up front.
Everton had defenders Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka in midfield roles - while Ince, having already sold David Bentley, named Steven Reid on the right flank.
Rovers started well, however, creating three good early chances.
Morten Gamst Pedersen surged through the middle to force Tim Howard into a finger-tip save.
Then two excellent crosses from Reid were both met by Santa Cruz and headed just wide.
Everton's response was a 25-yarder from Rodwell that was held low by Robinson although Dunn almost embarrassed an out-of-position Howard from 30 metres out down the other end.
But Rodwell was settling nicely into Premier League football and dished out one powerful challenge on Santa Cruz that drew appreciative applause.
Dunn, cutting in from the left, forced Howard into a smart save. But the next time Dunn was in a shooting position, he bagged an excellent goal on 22 minutes.
Pedersen and Santa Cruz were involved in the build-up, but Dunn did much of the hard work himself by sending Jagielka skidding away on his backside - having shifted the ball from right to left foot before firing wide of Howard.
Dunn's excellent goal gave Rovers the lift they needed, and they were finding too much room in the centre of midfield. Rodwell was doing his best, but the makeshift partnership with Jagielka was a worry.
Moyes attempted to solve the problem by moving Baines to left-back and shifting Nuno Valente into midfield.
But there was pace about Blackburn's play.
Stephen Warnock was booked in the 44th minute for a foul from behind on Arteta.
But two minutes into first-half injury-time, Arteta was on the score sheet with a curling free-kick - for a harsh hand-ball against Reid - that left Robinson standing.
Everton could have been ahead two minutes into the second period.
Rodwell put Baines away on the left - and when the cross flashed in front of goal both Yakubu and Leon Osman failed by inches to connect with the cross.
Jason Robert's fine run into the box past three defenders was finally halted by a combination of Howard and Joleon Lescott - when it looked as if the Rovers man would score.
Ooijer was