The win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League was a stay of execution for Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur, but that is all it should have been.
There is real familiarity between Ange Postecoglou's last season in charge and this first one for Frank in N17 - good in Europe, but awful domestically and with injuries galore.
Back-to-back wins for West Ham - one of them against Spurs last week - has closed the gap between Frank's side and the relegation zone. There are just eight points between the Lilywhites and the dreaded bottom three now.
Tottenham Fans Voice Anger Towards Thomas Frank
A good performance against struggling Burnley did not yield three points on Saturday. A Cristian Romero header in the 90th minute rescued a draw at Turf Moor and the fans once again voiced their displeasure in the direction of Frank.
'Sacked in the morning' chants were also joined by 'we want Frank out' chants. The team were booed by the visiting fans at the end - something which has become the norm for Tottenham games this season - and it feels like the relationship is completely broken.
According to football.london's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold, Frank's relationship with the supporters "seems irretrievable and if that's the case, it's difficult to see how much longer Tottenham can continue along his path".
Gold also stated in the aftermath of the Burnley draw that were Daniel Levy to still be in charge, Frank probably would have been sacked long ago and it's hard to disagree with him.
Daniel Levy Would Not Have Stood For This
Levy was ruthless when it came to managers and did not suffer fools. Those in power at Tottenham right now appear reluctant to make a decision that it feels like 90% of people connected with the club see as the right move.
Spurs have tough fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal to come in the Premier League, after their final Champions League league phase fixture with Eintracht Frankfurt.
It may well be that that midweek clash in Europe is the last of Frank's miserable tenure. A clean break, at the break of the Champions League, seems like the perfect time.
But, it would beg the question of why it's taken so long.
Tottenham will have gone through another transfer window, bringing in players that a new manager might not want. And if the break is made, who do Spurs bring in? There are better options available in the summer - Mauricio Pochettino, whom the fans also chanted about at Turf Moor - being one. An interim manager may be required - Ryan Mason is out of work again - and it would be classic Spurs to bring in a new assistant head coach for Frank in John Heitinga, to then place him in caretaker charge within weeks.
Thomas Frank Does Not Deserve Such Anger
Frank is one of the most likeable, affable, decent managers around and the anger towards him from the Tottenham supporters seems entirely untoward. But he has been put in this position by the club not making a decision sooner. They have let it get to this but the time is right for everyone to part ways.
There is a real disconnect between the club and their supporters right now and Frank is not entirely to blame for the predicament Spurs find themselves in. He was, in hindsight, the wrong choice for the role given the football he played at Brentford that has translated to north London.
The manager - or head coach - is always the fall guy though and Frank's reign has to fall in the coming days or there will be metaphorical riots.