Aitor Karanka will send Middlesbrough into Premier League battle with Everton thankful for the lesson they were taught when they met for the first time this season.
The two sides will resume hostilities at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday with Boro sitting just a single point clear of the relegation zone and knowing they need to end a run of seven games without a win if they are to fulfil their season's minimum aim of securing a second top-flight campaign in the wake of their hard-earned return.
Boro travelled to the blue half of Merseyside on September 17 having tasted defeat just once in their opening four league games and - despite taking the lead - lost 3-1 as Everton hit back in devastating fashion.