After back-to-back defeats to start the new 2026/27 Premier League campaign, a point against Nottingham Forest was a step in the right direction for Tottenham Hotspur.
It was, however, a less than inspiring performance from a Spurs side who boasted £297million worth of new talent in their starting lineup at the City Ground.
Spurs came away from Nottingham with a point, but without a goal and without a single shot on target in the match. It means they remain goalless so far in the Premier League, with the big money spent on ten new signings now gelling yet in an attacking sense.
The defence, at least, looked more solid after shipping three against Brentford on the opening day and then two against Newcastle last weekend.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi has consistently warned supporters that it will take time for this team to get up to speed with his philosophy. Speaking after the draw with Forest, the Italian said: "We bought very, very good players but you can't just build the team with the names like in Football Manager.
"We are not happy because we didn't win, but I think this is the right spirit and the right way to move on in this moment. Because we started just last Thursday to work [all] together and to create, to build the team, to build the organisation. It's not enough the paper, the transfer market."
De Zerbi started the game with Forest with four of his new signings on the pitch, but it was perhaps one that he left out that was the biggest surprise.
Spurs spent £85million on bringing Mateus Fernandes to the club from West Ham and he has been one of the rare shining lights in what has been a poor start to the season for the side overall.
He did not start against Brentford on the opening day, but came off the bench at half-time and looked lively, showing his array of passing and desire to get on the ball.
He then played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle and once again gave a good account of himself in another defeat. Without James Maddison, Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski, it has been hard to find a replacement No.10 in N17.
Fernandes was not brought in to play that role, but has already showcased his capabilities, so it was something of a surprise to see Conor Gallagher start there against Forest.
Gallagher spent a lot of his time filling in at right-back, allowing Pedro Porro to roam, and did enjoy a solid if unspectacular game, with football.london's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold handing him a six out of ten in his player ratings, saying: "Didn't contribute much going forward but got through a lot of work in the midfield and defence which might not have been spotted."
Not contributing much going forward, when playing the No.10 role, is not ideal and Fernandes was only given seven minutes off the substitutes' bench at the end of the match.
And De Zerbi's statement after the match did not make much sense.
"You know, I have experience enough to know what this stadium is," he said.
This stadium is English football, and Gallagher, he knows better this type of game
"Mateus [Fernandes] will become, for sure, in my time in Tottenham, one of the best players."
Spurs supporters will be hoping the latter part of that statement comes true, but talking about Gallagher knowing this type of game better was a bit of a head scratcher.
The 22-year-old already has 75 Premier League games under his belt and has played at the City Ground twice, once with Southampton and once with West Ham. It is not, you could argue, one of the more hostile atmospheres to encounter in the top flight.
Fernandes grabbed an assist in his appearance at the stadium with the Saints in 2024/25 and played in the ten role for the Hammers in their 3-0 win at the City Ground last season.
Tottenham supporters want to see more of Fernandes in the Lilywhite shirt, but De Zerbi knows he has plenty of talent to choose from and somehow keep happy.