Blackpool boss Ian Holloway was keen to focus on the positives after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.
The Seasiders were looking to give their survival bid a major boost in their penultimate home fixture of the season, but could not make a breakthrough against the Potters and with three games left to play, remain 17th, above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference alone.
The result means Holloway's team - who are still to host Bolton between daunting-looking trips to Tottenham and Manchester United - have now won only one of their last 15 matches and this was the first time they had failed to score at their own ground this term.
It was also Blackpool's first home clean sheet of the campaign, though, which their manager took as an encouraging sign.
"When we watched Stoke (win 3-0) against Wolves in the week, we thought 'oh dear, they are in fine form', so I think this proves that we have come out of our doldrums," Holloway said.
"We have taken on a really good side at our place and kept a clean sheet.
"Their defence was slightly better than our attacking options today, so well done to them for nullifying us.
"We've lost a record (scoring in every home game), but we've gained something - we've kept a clean sheet in the Premier League at home."
Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones missed the best goalscoring opportunity of the contest in first-half stoppage time after the hosts got in a mess at a throw-in and gave away possession.
The ball came to Jones, who took it around goalkeeper Matt Gilks, but the former Sunderland frontman then somehow contrived to shoot wide.
Several mistakes on the Tangerines' part have led to goals being scored against them in recent weeks and Holloway was relieved to see their luck change this time.
"It (the match-winner) probably should have been Kenwyne Jones, but from my point of view, I think that is the tide turning for us," Holloway said.
"Why did David Vaughan take that throw-in? He's not on throw-ins.
"Neal Eardley came to get it off him, Vaughany has suddenly thrown it at him, then that went straight to Jones, who went through and danced around our goalkeeper.
"But maybe the wind blew him sideways because he missed it."
Stoke manager Tony Pulis admitted his side might have won the game but overall he was satisfied to come away with a point.
"Great strikers score great goals, but they do miss chances - and chances as easy as that," Pulis said of Jones.
"But he has been fantastic for us and there will be no problems with him.
"Obviously it would have given us a great lift going in at half-time, but we also had opportunities in the second half which, on another day, could have dropped for us.
"Glenn Whelan had a couple of opportunities which I thought were very close, but Blackpool are fighting for their lives and you have to give them a lot of credit. It was a tough game."
