Spooky

That his side had played their part in a classic, however, will be of little consolation to Jose Mourinho. Just a few weeks ago, the Tottenham manager had been keen to point out how Spurs were still fighting at the sharp end on four fronts. Suddenly four has become two.

Tottenham will hope to ride this nascent feel-good factor into the sterner tests that lie ahead.

Spurs looked a beaten side from the very first minute. The once messianic Jose Mourinho now appears utterly incapable of providing inspiration.

In normal circumstances, such a dispiriting Spurs display would have fans calling for the manager’s head.

With Spurs now four points adrift of the Champions League places, Sunday night’s match at Brighton is categorically a must-win.

That is how Tanguy Ndombele makes me feel, like a kid again. Never before have I seen someone do what he does on a football pitch, play the way in which he plays, move the way he moves.