BIG EARLY CHANCES
Kieran McKenna spoke in the build-up about how it was important his side started with intensity in this game. They certainly did that. Liam Delap could have had a hat-trick inside six minutes.
With 20-odd seconds on the clock, Jens Cajuste's smooth turn, drive and pass set the 10-goal front man racing down the left side of the box. His stinging shot was beaten away keeper Guglielmo Vicario and Jaden Philogene's follow-up effort hit team-mate Omari Hutchinson on the line. The offside flag may have been raised, but so had the decibel levels inside Portman Road.
Less than minute later, Delap, who was looking too quick and strong for young centre-back Archie Gray, charged into a very similar position following Leif Davis' arrowed throw-in up the line. This time, Town's talisman dragged his shot across the face of goal.
Not long afterwards, Delap met Kalvin Phillips' whipped dead ball from the right with a fine glancing header. The ball looked like it was looping into the far top corner before coming back off the angle of bar and post.
Would the Blues be left to rue those missed opportunities? We soon got our answer.
GODFREY OFF THE PACE
Kieran McKenna had two options to replace the suspended Axel Tuanzebe at right-back - Ben Johnson or Ben Godfrey. Hindsight's a wonderful thing, but he picked the wrong one. Rusty full-back against world class winger proved a recipe for disaster.
Godfrey's a two-cap England international with a decent amount of Premier League experience, but he barely kicked a ball for Atalanta during the first half of the season. As a result, he'd looked off the pace in his first two starts for the Blues. Several goals came down his side in the 6-0 home defeat to Man City, while Coventry got plenty of joy in that area of the field during the first half of an FA Cup tie. His struggles continued in this game.
In the fourth minute, overlapping left-back Destiny Udogie latched onto a Son Heung-min ball up the line and forced Alex Palmer to save bravely at his feet. In the 13th minute, Son blazed past Ben Godfrey to create an opening for Lucas Bergvall. In the 15th minute, Son set Udogie away again down that side. The warning signs weren't heeded though.
Tottenham's 18th minute opener came after Gray intercepted a Phillips pass into Delap and sent a raking forward ball into the channel. Son got in behind Godfrey and drilled in a low cross for Johnson to stab in from close range.
Their second goal, scored in the 26th minute, was a virtual carbon copy. This time Rodrigo Bentancur was given too much space in midfield to work the ball wide, Son raced in behind the flat-footed Godfrey once more and cut the ball back for Johnson to side-foot home.
Moments later, Son squared up his marker again, darted past him again, and saw an angled shot kept out by Palmer at the near post to collective murmurings from the crowd.
McKenna hooked Godfrey at the break, replaced him with Luke Woolfenden and shifted Dara O'Shea out to right-back. It's hard to see the 27-year-old featuring much more more between now and the end of the season. What the club saw as an opportunistic mid-season signing has ended up looking like an unnecessary one.
TWO MORE INJURY BLOWS
There's been much debate recently about what Ipswich's best midfield pairing is.
For me, Jens Cajuste is the best of the bunch and I felt it was time for an extended look at him alongside Kalvin Phillips.
For the second weekend running, we got to see that duo in action as fit-again skipper Sam Morsy had to make do with a place on the bench.
Cajuste produced some of his usual silky moments, while Phillips was a mixture of aggression and composure. It was working well.
Then Cajuste landed awkwardly early in the second half, rolling his ankle, and had to be replaced. Later on, Phillips limped off with a calf problem.
Both are clearly good Premier League midfielders. Sadly, neither have been able to reach full throttle during their season-long loans from Napoli and Man City respectively. Things have been particularly stop-start for Phillips, while Cajuste's knee issues have prevented him from being someone who can complete 90 minutes.
Town needed a fair wind to maximise their chance of survival this season. They've not had an awful lot of luck on the injuries front.
IMPROVED INDIVIDUALS
Town responded well to going 1-0 and 2-0 down. They kept throwing punches back in an utter slugfest of a first half and eventually landed one. Palmer's big kick up field preceded Phillips' well-weighted pass and Jack Clarke cut the ball back for Hutchinson's expertly taken first time finish.
The game was less open after the restart, but Town did have a little spell when they were pushing for an equaliser. Things may have been different had Luke Woolfenden been onside when he headed in on the hour mark.
True, the Blues' attack wasn't fully functioning - but that's no surprise. This was Clarke's sixth Premier League start, while it was Philogene's full home debut.
I actually thought both showed signs of major progress with the way they worked off the ball in this game. They just need time to improve their team chemistry. Time, sadly, is something that Town don't have.
Frustration may be the overriding emotion at present, but the thought of some talented young English attackers clicking in the medium to long-term term - whether that be in the Premier League or Championship - is exciting.
THE DIFFERENCE
James Maddison is clearly a man who gets fired up by his critics. His 'shush' goal celebration, aimed at Roy Keane a week ago, is proof of that. Booing the former Norwich man as he entered the field as a second half sub was, therefore, probably not the best idea, then.
The England schemer showed superb footwork to dance his way out of a tight spot in the box to tee up Djed Spence for Spurs' killer third goal in the 77th minute. The way the ball deflected off Woolfenden into the top corner was another example of how the luck's just not gone Town's way this season.
The fourth goal also had an element of misfortune. Should Tim Robinson have stopped the game after Dane Scarlett and Jacob Greaves clashed heads? By the letter of the law, yes. That said, the Spurs man won the aerial duel fairly and Dejan Kulusevski's curling finish was excellent.
The final scoreline felt harsh, but this game was a microcosm of Ipswich's season. Really competitive for long spells, but ultimately not clinical enough at both ends. The Premier League is ridiculously unforgiving.
GAP GROWS
Wolves took advantage of Bournemouth being reduced to 10-men in the first half to win 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
That result means that Ipswich are now five points from safety with 12 games to go. It's effectively a six-point gap due to goal difference.
The first thing to say is that, as sizeable as this task now looks, this is no time to throw the towel in. Town go to Manchester United on Wednesday night, a team who have lost 12 Premier League games this season. There are still crunch games to come against Wolves and Leicester too. The picture could change again very quickly. There's still an FA Cup fifth round tie to look forward to as well, don't forget.
The second thing to say is that, if the Blues do ultimately fall short, then perspective will be required. This Premier League line-up has the best strength in depth for years. Even the mid-to-lower clubs in it have spent numerous transfer windows building their squads. Ipswich, following back-to-back promotions, have had just two.
There have been more hits than misses in terms of recruitment. There have been more entertaining and competitive matches than flat and one-sided ones. Ipswich Town Football Club will be in a far better place regardless of how this season finishes. Keep enjoying the journey.