Bob Bradley felt his first Premier League point provided "something to build on" after his Swansea side drew 0-0 with Watford at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea's winless run was extended to eight matches and they stay in the relegation zone, two points from safety.
But former United States boss Bradley, in charge at home for the first time, said he had been encouraged after Swansea had the bulk of the chances.
"I thought the second half was strong, I liked the way we came out," he said.
"There were a lot of positives, the first clean sheet in a long time, and there's things to build on.
"We're also going to be honest and say we're disappointed we're only taking a point.
"At this point we have to trust the fact if we work the right way, our football gets better, we compete better and do all these little things to improve, the points will come."
Bradley made five changes from the side that pushed Arsenal all the way in losing 3-2 in his first game at the helm.
The American handed 22-year-old Alfie Mawson, signed from Championship club Barnsley in August, his Premier League debut and was rewarded with an impressive display in central defence alongside Dutchman Mike van der Hoorn.
"Mike and Alfie gave us positive play in the centre of defence,'' he said.
"Watford is clearly a very different team than Arsenal, and against guys like [Troy] Deeney and [Odion] Ighalo it was a good way to go.
"Alfie has earned respect from his teammates. He is not afraid to talk and organise, he is a solid passer, and I am very pleased with his first game. I've just got to keep these guys facing forward."
Watford have now lost only one of their last six games and this was their second consecutive clean sheet.
"I am happy with the point and the first-half performance, considering it was an away game," said Watford manager Walter Mazzarri. "The only thing is we should have scored.
"In the second half we made some mistakes and allowed Swansea to be dangerous. When we play away and don't manage to score, the home teams grows in confidence. That's what happened.
"We have proved that we are a good team and Burnley [when Watford lost 2-0] was one episode.
"We are growing in personality as a team, but we have to play for the whole game, not just one half."