Despite two similar results with, on paper, parallel outcomes, the emotions within the Tottenham Hotspur fan base are starkly different.

Molineux once again proved the venue where Spurs supporters were given a reality check regarding their title hopes. Three years ago, the wheels began to fall off under Jose Mourinho following a 1-1 draw.

The Portuguese hothead buried his players for lacking ambition as they slid to fifth in the table. Exactly two weeks earlier, Tottenham were top of the Premier League.

That is how quickly things change in football.

“Defending deep, that’s not the intention,” Mourinho said on the day, rejecting all responsibility for the poor run of form. “They know what I asked them at half-time. If they couldn’t do better, it’s because they couldn’t do better. We are frustrated with the result.

“We had control of the game, but we had 89 minutes to score more goals and we didn’t. It was not just about not scoring goals, it was also about not being dangerous and not being ambitious. For me, that’s the problem.”

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Contrast that to Ange Postecoglou’s comments and you will gain an inkling into why the wheels are not falling off at Spurs. Admittedly, talk of a title charge does appear premature, but was it ever really on in the first place?

The realisation that Spurs will likely not compete for the league did not deal as brutal a blow as three years ago – despite losing the game at Molineux this time in stoppage time. While lowered expectations following Harry Kane’s exit and Antonio Conte’s apathetic reign has helped, the Australian’s upbeat style and attacking philosophy has given hope that better days are coming.

Under Mourinho, a ticking-time-bomb manager, it was a case of now or never. But Postecoglou’s Spurs win and lose as a team.

“Some of the guys have played their first games of the year,” the 58-year-old explained post-match, highlighting the absentee list. “Changing three of the back four is fairly disruptive, especially when the guys haven’t played at all. They will be better for the experience.

“They will be stronger now they have a match under their belts, so there are plenty of positives. There was a little bit of self-preservation to get us through to the end of the game but it’s all understandable given the lineup we had out there.”

Two weeks off allows Spurs to reflect on what has been a brilliant start to the campaign. The wheels fell off in 2020 as Tottenham ultimately finished eighth, infamously sacking Mourinho just days before the Carabao Cup final.

Rival fans will be hoping for another “Spursy” downfall but the vibe in North London is that history will be made – not repeated – in the coming years