This was a snapshot of life without Harry Kane.
So it was a good job that Heung-Min Son and his pals read the script - and stepped up.
For too long, the burden of goalscoring responsibility has weighed down on Spurs’ talisman.
If only for last night, he needed someone to relieve him of it - and his main partner-in-crime finally obliged.
It may only be a fleeting respite, but at least the South Korean did a job for boss Antonio Conte.
Until Preston’s resistance was broken late in the second half, few others seemed capable.
It’s staggering that Kane has played in so many matches with the onus, almost solely, on him to find the net.
At some stage - and it could come sooner than everyone thinks if Manchester United do firm up their interest - it will come to pass that Kane cannot be relied upon any longer.
Perhaps that’s why Richarlison was brought to the north London club.
Perhaps... maybe.
But there’s little evidence that he’s going to score goals by the bucketful that Kane has delivered on a regular basis.
What was it? Ten last season as Everton’s leading scorer?
Until Son re-discovered his shooting boots in Lancashire, it looked for all the world as if Spurs would fluff their lines again.
There was too little life, invention and a decided lack of a cutting edge.
The latter has all too often fallen to Kane to sort out. And he has.
But the club has to be weaned off him at some stage.
And, despite the victory, this was just another demonstration of why it is that Levy and Conte cannot crack it.
For all the money, hype and adulation that’s been lavished down upon the north Londoners, the fact is that Kane and his goals have masked huge deficiencies at his club.
That was demonstrated in the north London derby when the writing was writ large in ten-foot-tall red and white letters.
Spurs were led a merry dance on their own patch by a team full of confidence, vitality and invention.
And they couldn’t cope.
Against a mid-table Championship side, they huffed and puffed until the South Korean let one fly from 25 yards and it fizzed into the net.
Son’s second was another reminder of what he brings to the table. But that has been sadly lacking so far this term. A third gave the scoreline a polish it may be didn’t deserve.
The reality is that all it has done is highlight what else is missing.
There’s no devastating pace like Gareth Bale used to provide. The passing ability and game management of Luka Modric is absent - as is a number ten in the mould of a Dimitar Berbatov.
Levy has spent money. But there’s not much to show for it.
That’s why Conte has warned it’s going to take him at least another two or three windows - and another chunk of cash - to transform this club of permanent under-achievers.
He will need help to do so.
Kane is apparently ready to commit the rest of his career to Spurs.
Mr Levy, whatever he wants - just pay him.
Call the club’s lawyers, meet Kane’s agent and get the deal done.
Rumours are swirling and even Manchester United’s hopeless recruitment team cannot overlook the bleedin’ obvious any longer.
If they’re going to slap £100m down for Antony, they can certainly foot the bill for a man who will shortly be crowned Spurs’ greatest goalscorer.
And England’s in the next couple of months, too, in all probability.
Conte has a big enough job on his hands even if Kane stays. If he leaves, then it automatically becomes huge.
At least his night out at dank, drizzly Deepdale didn’t go the way of his last visit to Championship opposition ten months ago when Middlesbrough dumped out his decidedly lacklustre side.
Funnily enough, Kane didn’t feature then on the scoresheet, either. Fortunately for Spurs, Son ensured there would be no repeat.
