It was a blow for Tottenham, who conceded an equalizer so late in Saturday's game against Everton. However, there is no doubt that Ange Postecoglou's team did not deserve to win either way.
Spurs did not play well at Goodison Park and could even be said to be the worst they have played throughout most of the season. Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and James Maddison were all very quiet, and Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner were also poor.
Part of that was down to Everton, who, while lacking in quality, were well worth it in terms of workload and challenge, although Tottenham's midfield looked a bit tired to me.
What was so disappointing was the way Everton scored their second goal. I can guarantee Coach Postecoglou was shouting at his players at half-time. There's only one way this team can score and that's from set-pieces, so don't give them free kicks.
If it keeps happening anyway, it's one of the most frustrating things to see when you're watching, whether you're a manager or not, but when you're playing, it's hard to keep it from happening. is very difficult.
There are some moments of madness. That's what happened to Dejan Kulusevski in the end. He had the ball and should have smashed it down the pitch, but he tried something and lost the ball, then gave away a stupid foul and conceded to Everton. Hit the ball and score points.
Still, from the Tottenham players' point of view, such a result will be easier to accept once the dust settles and they realize how poorly they played.
Spurs picked up points from games they would have lost with such a team performance last season, and there were some real positives from their individual performances.
Richarlison shines even in Son's absence
Richarlison's brace against Everton means he has now scored nine goals in his last eight Premier League games, an impressive figure.
The centre-forward position has been one of Spurs' big question marks since Postecoglou arrived last summer and Harry Kane left just weeks later.
Son Heung-min has played in midfield at times, and Richarlison has played in midfield at times, but no player has ever fully embraced that role.
If “Sonny” had not been away for the Asian Cup, he would still have been given the job, but his absence has given an opportunity to Richarlison, and Ange probably now trusts him with the ball. You would think that you could put in . Net.
At the back I thought Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero were exceptional, and at full-back Destiny Udogi and Pedro Polo were both very decent.
If you look at Tottenham's back four now, they're all top-level. As a unit they have only been together since the beginning of the season, but they have turned things around very quickly.
They look good defensively, but that doesn't just apply to areas of the team. Overall, I think the future is really bright, and not just what happens this season.
Are Spurs the “best of the rest”?
Spurs suffered a bit of a dip in November after being hit by injuries and suspensions, but as of early February they were still just seven points off the top of the table.
As for the title, I think this chart is pretty accurate in that Tottenham are off the pace. This is the time of the season when the best teams start getting stronger and stronger and don't drop points like Spurs.
However, if we're talking about a top-four finish, it's a different story. It doesn't seem like they don't understand it now.
If Arsenal can get back on track, it will be Arsenal and Liverpool who challenge Manchester City for the title, but I see Spurs as the best of the rest.
They are not even close to Arsenal. If you look at the players on both teams, I don't think Tottenham are inferior at all, and that's reflected in the results.
When I talk to a lot of Arsenal fans, they always say things like, “You guys are a nuisance in our lives because we thought you were gone,'' but I think Spurs are going to leave. I don't feel that way. Please leave now.
Whoever they end up being, I wouldn't be surprised if they're only about 8 points clear of the champions at the end of the season. This should be more than enough in Postecoglou's first season as coach, but I think there's more to come.
“I hope this is what Spurs look like for the next 10 years.”
Postecoglou is still building his team and in that regard he felt he had a great January transfer window with the players he brought in.
Werner strengthens Spurs in these wide attacking areas and although we haven't seen much of Radu Dragusin yet, he could provide back-up should something happen to Van de Ven or Romero. Dew. They also signed another youngster from Sweden, Lukas Bergvall.
In addition to bringing in players, it was important to retain players who would play a role, such as Ben Davis and Emerson Royal.
Davies was Tottenham's best player in the pre-Christmas period when Spurs didn't have many players. People may forget about it once the likes of Maddison and Son hit their stride in the coming weeks, but what Davis did back then was huge for the club's season.
I mean, when you experience the team, you not only like how it looks, but you also feel that the team is really strong.
The question is whether they can take advantage of it. Teams sometimes feel like, for example, he has a two-year chance to succeed and has to make the most of it.
One of Spurs' worst traits over the last few years has been their inability to put everything together, and that's their problem right now. It feels like they are becoming an elite defense and an elite midfield, but will they be able to find an elite striker?
Son is currently 31 years old and is reaching an age where it is doubtful whether he will be able to maintain the level he has been, scoring as many goals and playing as many games as he has.
As a key player, his time may be limited for him to lead this team in the desired direction, and if that happens, the team may have to find another way to sustain itself. Can Richarlison continue to score and provide an answer? I don't know about that, but I hope they can put everything together within the deadline I'm talking about.
They now have a young team, a strong team and a top manager, and they are playing great football.
From a Spurs point of view, everyone looks at that and hopes this is what the club will be like for the next 10 years – I think so too. I hope this is just the beginning.
Jermaine Jenas told BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.