IT was fitting that a whirlwind few days for Alex McLeish culminated in an afternoon of ups and downs – and high drama – for Nottingham Forest.
The Scotsman had gone from taking a surprise phone call on Boxing Day, to being interviewed and appointed on December 27, facing the press on the December 28 and, finally, watching his new side in action for the first time – all within four days.
The arrival of the new manager had divided opinion, largely because many fans had felt sympathy for Sean O'Driscoll, as much as anything else.
But, by 5pm on Saturday, there was a decidedly positive mood at the City Ground, as the club entered into a new era and a new year, with a credible result against one of the sides they soon hope to be challenging for promotion.
There was no place for the club's owners in the directors box, with Abdulaziz Al Hasawi having returned to Kuwait following a significant few days for the family, as they took a huge decision they hope will help Forest take a step closer to a place in the Premier League.
But it was from that vantage point that McLeish witnessed a display from Forest that perfectly personified both their strengths and their weaknesses.
McLeish, amid an honest and realistic assessment of the situation at his unveiling 24 hours before, had spoken of the importance of character; of having a winning mentality. And, while the first match of his tenure might not have ended in a victory, Forest certainly demonstrated a determination not to be beaten, as they twice fought back from behind.
McLeish, a dominant, rock solid defender during his playing career with the over-achieving Aberdeen side of the 1980s, will want to address the familiar defensive frailty that has marred Forest's start to the season.
Forest generally marshalled an attack-minded Palace side well, with considerable composure and organisation. Danger man Wilfried Zaha in particular was rendered almost anonymous as Forest's back four and, most notably, Dan Harding, nullified his threat.
But two momentary lapses at the back did see Glenn Murray pounce twice to put Palace in the ascendancy. But, while a simple, sliding far post finish and a clever, looping header from the 22-goal striker twice put the visitors ahead, McLeish will also take encouragement from Forest's refusal to accept defeat.
Andy Reid, one of the players who had championed O'Driscoll's appointment back in the summer and Billy Sharp, the striker who admitted his loan move had been motivated by a desire to be reunited with his former Doncaster boss, provided the goals that ensured a positive start to his replacement's tenure.
Reid's strike, a 20-yard effort flashed in unstoppable fashion across Julian Speroni and inside the far post, capped off an outstanding display from the Irishman, who is back in the kind of form that persuaded Spurs to sign him during his first spell at the City Ground.
Sharp's predatory instincts came to the fore in injury time, as he pounced on a flick on from Dexter Blackstock, before firing the ball into an empty net after Speroni had pushed his initial effort onto the post.
The striker had already struck the woodwork with a header in the first half, as Forest piled pressure on the Forest goal and is definitely a man in form, having taken his tally to six goals in eight games.
Sharp's future is just one of many items that will be on McLeish's 'to do' list as he settles into his new role. The club have entered into early talks with the player over a potential permanent move – but there may be many hurdles still to overcome, not least the fact that they must persuade Southampton to sell.
During his playing career, even after McLeish had won his first Scotland cap, his father attempted to persuade Aberdeen boss Alex Ferguson to allow his son to continue his training as an accountant.
And those numeracy skills may come in more useful than ever before, as McLeish finds himself at a club where he could, if he wishes, be backed heavily in the January transfer window.
Along with Sharp, Forest may look to sign Daniel Ayala and Elliott Ward, two of their other loan signings, on a permanent basis. And McLeish also confirmed that he will look at the position of those key players who are out of contract in the summer.
They, along with Dexter Blackstock, Radi Majewksi and Lee Camp, include a player, in Lewis McGugan, who the manager attempted to sign during his time at Birmingham City.
McLeish, from his lofty position in the stands, ordered that the talented midfielder be introduced off the bench in the 64th minute and the Nottingham-born player responded with a timely reminder of his capabilities.
Whether the disciplined approach of McLeish proves to be what is required to get the best out of a player who has fulfilled his potential in patches, rather than in consistent spells, remains to be seen.
But the glowing terms in which McLeish spoke of the talented midfielder would suggest that he is keen to give him another opportunity.
With the likes of Simon Cox, Henri Lansbury and McGugan all starting on the bench at the weekend, McLeish has inherited a squad with plenty of depth.
But he will target another defender, a winger and possibly another striker to add to his ranks, as he looks to assemble a group that is capable of pushing for the top flight.
The Scotsman says he has not been told he must win promotion this season, by the Al Hasawi family. But, given that they have acted quickly to move on both Steve Cotterill and O'Driscoll in their short spell as owners of the club, McLeish will be under no illusions that a play-off place is probably his minimum target, if his job is to last far beyond the end of the campaign.
Given that, even under O'Driscoll, Forest looked to be on course to achieve that, it should not be too much of a big ask under McLeish – particularly not if he can add some of the discipline and defensive organisation that were two of his trademarks at Birmingham City, as he steered them into the top flight.
McLeish's first six days as Forest manager have been a real whirlwind.
But so have the first five months under the club's Kuwaiti owners. Whatever happens between now and May, you sense there is more drama to come, starting with the January transfer window.
