Tottenham Hotspur salvaged a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, but here are more dropped points, and there was a chance to close the gap at the top of the table.
Much has been made of the positive steps Spurs have taken since Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou this summer, but this felt a regressive result, one which highlighted the inconsistencies still laced through this Tottenham team.
While defeat was avoided in the dying embers, Wolves were well worth their money, and the hosts struggled to create against a steely defence.
However, Joao Palhinha, on loan from Bayern Munich, came up trumps with an emphatic late goal.
Joao Palhinha stars for Spurs again
Tottenham underwent a series of changes this summer, namely parting with their long-serving superstar Heung-min Son after Postecoglou's fate was sealed.
A number of signings were welcomed, and the loan move to sign Joao Palhinha was among them, minnowed perhaps by flashier deals for Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons. However, it's the tough-tackling Portuguese who has been the pick of the bunch thus far.
Rifling home in stoppage time, the 30-year-old saved a point for the Lilywhites, but that wasn't the sum of his contribution, with Sofascore recording that he also won all seven of his ground duels and made a total of five tackles, making good on previous praise from data analyst Marcus Bring that he's a "defensive monster".
The complete package, he's proving a real steal for Frank's side, sure to continue plying an important role over the coming months. Maybe years.
While Simons and Richarlison failed to inspire from an attacking standpoint, they weren't the only culprits, with Frank's side lacking an overall degree of fluency that would be expected against a side entering the match having lost all five league fixtures so far.
And among those to flatter to deceive was Djed Spence, who must now be dropped ahead of an important week across European and domestic fronts.
Frank must drop Djed Spence
Spence has enjoyed quite the revival at Tottenham, but there's a growing sense that his ceiling may hang lower than that of his counterparts.
Against Wolves, he certainly didn't produce a performance that counters that argument. Awarded a 6/10 match rating by football.london, it was noted that his delivery left something to be desired and that he lacked rhythm.
There's no question that the 25-year-old is a stern defender, but he lacks something going forward, with Sofascore recording that he created only one chance and failed to even attempt a dribble before being hooked right after the hour mark.
Losing possession 12 times, Spence also won only three of six contested duels across the evening, and perhaps highlighted why Frank has another, more established right-back at his disposal.
Frank completely rewrote the coding of his right flank with half an hour still on the clock, but it did little of note for a side lacking coherence and spark in attack.
However, we all know of Porro's attacking qualities and proven experience in the Premier League, and with Destiny Udogie getting stronger by the game after a testing 2024/25 campaign, it may well be that there isn't space for Spence in the starting line-up going forward.
The newly blooded England international has enjoyed quite the resurgence down N17, but he is limited offensively and lacks the culture of Udogie and Porro when both are on their A-game.
He must now be benched.