They can be grateful for those, with Thomas Frank’s side doing little to deserve the point they came away from Norway with after a 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt.
On an eventful night, Jens Petter Hauge scored twice after the hosts had already missed a penalty. Rodrigo Bentancur had a goal ruled out by VAR, but Micky van de Ven pulled one back and an 89th-minute own goal from Jostein Gundersen left Spurs somehow flying home with a draw.
Although it is not a bad result, the manner of the performance is worrying, particularly as it continued some of the familiar shortcomings from recent matches.
New challenge: Thomas Frank
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It was a surprising team selection from Frank, who dropped Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons to the bench.
With Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert on the wings, Spurs were evidently set up to be a threat on the counter, presumably with the plan being that Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr would press up and win the ball back.
That happened once early on, when Bergvall drove forward and created for Richarlison, but otherwise it was far too passive from Spurs.
Bodo/Glimt had more than 60% of the ball and Spurs barely left their half, allowing the hosts to dominate and camp themselves outside the penalty area.
Richarlison joined his team-mates deep in their own territory and so there was no realistic way for them to get up the pitch, as Bodo/Glimt enjoyed wave after wave of attacks. No creativity, no outlet and no threat.
It was no surprise that Spurs looked immediately more threatening when Kudus and Simons were introduced on the hour mark.
Isolated: Richarlison had a hand in the equaliser but did not know much about it
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Spurs have a striker problem
There were decisions to make in defence, in midfield and out wide for Frank when it came to his starting lineup, but Richarlison’s name is effectively in permanent marker on the team sheet right now.
Dominic Solanke has an ankle injury and faces a longer spell on the sidelines after surgery, while Randal Kolo Muani is still recovering from a dead leg. With Mathys Tel not in the Champions League squad, Richarlison had to start.
The situation is a major concern for Spurs. Richarlison started the season in superb form and scored twice on the opening weekend but that feels a long time ago.
He now looks leggy and unable to hold the ball up as his side need. Against Bodo/Glimt he had four touches in the first half and five after the break.
Richarlison should have opened the scoring early on after a brilliant cross from Lucas Bergvall, but he failed to sort his feet out in time and the ball just bobbled off him.
The Brazilian could do with a rest – both he and Spurs need other forward options available.
Lacking: Brennan Johnson struggled all game
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A glance at only the results shows that Spurs are now unbeaten in six matches across all competitions.
That, though, feels somewhat misleading, with Spurs increasingly unconvincing rather than going through the gears. They are no longer getting the wins to make up for struggling performances.
They have come from two goals down against Brighton and Bodo/Glimt to earn draws, and scored late on to snatch a point against Wolves, but they are having to work much harder for these results than Frank would like.
A rock-solid defence characterised the early weeks of the season. However, Brighton and Wolves both had moments of success against Spurs and Bodo/Glimt could have scored three or four.
That is putting added pressure on the attack to start delivering more free-flowing, effective performances, yet again here chances in open play were few and far between.
A win over Doncaster is the only victory in the last four matches. There are more and more problems for Frank to solve as another international break looms.
