Eddie Howe will have learned a great deal about his new charges as they fought back to claim a point from a game they played no part in for the first hour.
But for him and Amanda Staveley, by his side on Saturday in the Amex Stadium’s directors’ box, the most fruitful lessons could come from their opponents.
The charge levelled at Newcastle’s new owners has been that they don’t seem to know yet how they’re going to run this club.
That they act as though this £305million collection of Tyneside’s hopes and dreams was a gift at a surprise birthday party.