David Moyes had told Jack Rodwell to start imposing himself on games just as the Sunderland midfielder ended a remarkable unwanted record in Saturday's win at Crystal Palace.
The crucial 4-0 victory represented the first Premier League fixture for 1,370 days in which Rodwell had started for the winning team, having last done so 39 matches ago when Manchester City defeated West Brom in May 2013.
It could also provide the platform 20th-placed Sunderland required to revive their season, in the same way the once-promising Rodwell can perhaps play with greater freedom now that that run is at an end.