It was hardly the ideal Christmas present was it - a late equaliser from Brisbane Roar to deny the Jets a much-needed home win.
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Understandably disappointing, but hardly disastrous, frustrating rather than harrowing.
The game itself was far from pretty, but I like the fact that the Jets reverted to a plan that gave themselves the best chance of winning.
You can argue that they didn't - and that is indisputable - but it took a freakish strike from Bradden Inman, falling over as he hit it, in the 87th minute to deny the Jets.
It was a half chance brilliantly taken from a very manageable number of opportunities allowed by the Jets' defence. And for me that is the reality the team faces at present.
Their best chance of getting a result right now is to be tight and compact, use the mobility they have across the board to break effectively and take advantage of the genuine acceleration young Angus Thurgate possesses at appropriate and selective moments. There is no shame in that.
It is fashionable to dominate possession, control games etc. But you have to weigh up whether that suits your team, particularly your front-third players. You also have to ask whether you have the technical quality, and physical capacity to implement that philosophy and, importantly, factor in what suits your opponent least.
Work out what you are good at and go from there. It's not rocket science.
And I think the Jets stripped it back to that on Saturday and went within an inch of getting three points.
They certainly gave themselves a far better chance of winning tactically than they did in Perth - the different quality of opponent acknowledged - and for me that's a good sign.
In a nutshell, I would dream of playing tennis like Federer but would also gleefully grab the armoury of Andy Roddick and have a very nice career, thank you kindly.
Back to football speak, before I get the Benny Elias award for mixing metaphors, and consider Newcastle's goal and Thurgate's opportunity to ice the game. Both resulted from pretty direct longish passes and well-timed runs past relatively high defensive lines looking to play offside.
Ben Kantarovski's brilliantly saved header in the dying minutes came from a recycled set piece where the Jets threw numbers forward and almost won the game.
Nothing too intricate in that triumvirate of chances, just appreciation of space, well-timed forward runs and game circumstances (technically referred to as s--t or bust in learned quarters ) as full-time approached.
Not exotic, but effective to all but the nth degree and suited to the Jets qualities.
At the risk of raising the ire of some Jets fans, can I mention the effort of Sydney in winning nine consecutive home fixtures ? Thanks for your understanding, and well done to Steve Corica and his team.
It's easy to think of the goals of Adam Le Fondre and Kosta Barbarouses, the majesty of Milos Ninkovic, the passing of Luke Brattan and Alex Baumjohann and Rhyan Grant and Michael Zullo bombing on from fullback.
But you don't win nine in a row at home unless you're defensive structure is very sound and Sydney are conceding at one-goal-per game this season.
I'm sure they work on aspects at both ends of the pitch, like most teams, but I have a hunch that it comes naturally at the attacking end for three quarters of their excellent midfield and their defensive duties get special attention at training.
Certainly Alex Wilkinson from central defence and Andrew Redmayne in goal are very vocal and stern with anyone losing defensive concentration and shape.
Yes, Sydney have good players and more talent than most, but their fundamentals in terms of shape and positioning are absolutely non-negotiable.
Nine points clear after 11 games ... hmm seems to be working.
And that dear reader is where we are at as the decade ticks over.
Nothing changes too much. Sydney lead the A- League, followed by two teams from Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
The Jets and Mariners have both played well in patches, but are handicapped by budget and, though both have a game or two in hand, occupy two of the bottom three places.
We wait patiently for the production line of young players to emerge from the development system in place, fortunately not holding our breath . We need some soon because history shows we cannot afford the top quality imports, well not regularly anyhow.
And we wonder if we will continue to rely on a variety of rich benefactors to keep the club afloat and its fortunes to fluctuate in tune with global business conditions for the foreseeable future?
Is there a viable, palatable and practical alternative?
Will a lot change in the next decade? I wouldn't bet on it, but I would take the $15 about Real Madrid to win the Champions League before they beat Man City in February. Gareth Bale to score the winner in the final, off the bench, in his last game for Madrid.
Happy New Year and happy next decade.
