The optimism following Tottenham’s dramatic win over Manchester City immediately evaporated, as Antonio Conte’s side followed up with a 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.
For seasoned Spurs-watchers, the result was grimly predictable and will prompt the latest in a series of dramatic shifts in mood that have characterised their season.
If the win over City offered a glimpse of what this Spurs side could become under Conte, their display at Turf Moor was another reminder of how far they still have to go.
Centre-half Ben Mee scored the winner with 20 minutes remaining, outmuscling the otherwise excellent Cristian Romero to head home a deep free-kick at the back post.
Saturday’s win was the result of a perfectly-executed tactical plan and demonstrated that Spurs are deadly when afforded space in attacking areas, particularly when Harry Kane and Heung-min Son are in the mood.
But they have consistently struggled to break down well-drilled teams who are content to deny them space in the final third, and a visit to struggling Burnley was always likely present different challenges to Conte’s side.
Not for the first time, they failed to land any significant blows on a disciplined and dogged opponent, albeit one with just one win in 19 previous home matches this season.
With Son desperately out of sorts and Kane diligent but denied the kind of space he enjoyed at the Etihad, Spurs finished the first half without a single shot on target, and their only efforts of note half-chances for Romero and Emerson Royal.
It was a familiar story to other matches against lesser sides this season, and the fact that Spurs have managed just 31 goals in 24 league games speaks volumes about their struggles at creating and finishing chances.
Admittedly, the goal came amid Spurs’ best spell of pressure, with Ben Davies, Kane and Dejan Kulusevski all going close before Mee struck.
If Burnley had not scored, Spurs might have had enough to force a breakthrough but it felt as though they were relying on the bounce of the ball or a moment of brilliance, rather than a concerted plan, as they had against City.
Sideways rain beat down relentlessly at Turf Moor, making the pitch heavy rather than slick and surely suiting the hosts, but there was no excuse for how little Spurs managed to create against a side in relegation trouble.
They have now lost four of their past five League games and the worry is that their performance at City was an anomaly rather than a benchmark or indeed a springboard.
Conte’s side remain eighth in the table, increasingly in danger of being cut adrift from the top four. They can scarcely afford another poor result against crisis club Leeds on Saturday.
Wing-backs struggle
Tottenham were collectively poor but their struggles at wing-back were particularly evident against a Clarets side who packed the middle of the pitch, and often allowed space in wide areas.
Emerson, who has long felt like a weak link, saw more of the ball than any other player before he was replaced on 65 minutes, but the Brazilian was rarely able to convert dangerous positions into opportunities. Too often his crosses were hopeful, and came to nothing.
Spurs immediately looked more threatening when Kulusevski switched to right wing-back, with the Swede twice stepping inside on his left foot and curling efforts towards the far post. The first was bravely headed clear by Mee, while the second was an inch wide, shortly before Burnley struck.
Playing Kulusevski or perhaps Lucas Moura, who replaced Emerson, at wing-back from the start is surely something Conte should consider going forward, particularly in tight matches. While Emerson is solid defensively he is short of thrust and a final ball in attacking areas, which blunts Conte’s 3-4-3 system.
On the opposite flank, Ryan Sessegnon also put in a hesitant display at left wing-back, although he was unlucky that dangerous low crosses, one in each half, were not attacked by a teammate. Spurs missed the acceleration of Sergio Reguilon, who was back on the bench after testing positive for Covid but did not train until this morning.
