When Wayne Rooney slotted home a 90th minute equaliser to give Everton a draw against newly-promoted Brighton, it might had just saved an emergency board meeting between owners Bill Kenwright, Farhad Moshiri and Jon Woods the next day.
Indeed, quite a few Toffee fans would have been calling polls on their Twitter accounts on whether manager Koeman should still be in the hot seat if they had lost at the AMEX.
But moments after forward Rooney curled into the bottom left-hand corner, little would have been remembering when he was caught for drink-driving and banned on the road for two years just over a month earlier.
It was a sour day for him, a distasteful reminder of his early years as a professional where his carelessness and rash decision-making saw him painted as a villain by the media and fans.
It was important that Koeman stuck by him, and although the club fined him two weeks wages, his position on the pitch remained unparalleled. The acquisition of Rooney was as much down to him as it was the manager- a fresh start, returning to home roots, familiar ground near the home he grew up in in Croxteth.
The relationship between manager and player has already become under strain, but it will be shown in the coming weeks as Rooney will become an ever increasing influence on the Everton team both on and off it.
A leader at Manchester United, Ronald Koeman will look to his experienced star to support him as both men look to redeem themselves as the club looks to push up the table after a rather uncanny and exacerbating start to the campaign.
With a vital game against Lyon coming up on Thursday in the Europa League, where they have not made the brightest of beginnings, they will be keen to get their cup form on track and then a fixture against Arsenal the following Sunday will provide perhaps a sterner courage of test for the Everton players.
Despite the Gunners loss against Watford, Wenger's men will be keen to continue their good form at Goodison Park where they have won 4 out of their last 6 meetings, drawing once.
It may have a significant impact on Koeman's job and Rooney's influence and experience could become a key player in the future of the Dutchman. He will become an important person over the coming weeks with Everton in need of three points and momentum to energise their season.
