From ecstasy to agony in under 20 minutes.
The emotional rollercoaster experienced by Tottenham Hotspur fans in the closing stages of Saturday's draw with Brighton likely hinted at what is yet to come.
Xavi Simons had led his team-mates in joyous celebration, the Spurs supporters joining in a collective release of pent-up emotion, after the 22-year-old's wonderful strike put Roberto de Zerbi's side on course for a first Premier League win since 28 December.
But those scenes proved premature when, in the fifth minute of eight added for stoppage time, Brighton’s Georginio Rutter delivered a devastating sucker-punch.
It left Spurs still one point adrift of safety with just five games remaining – a situation which could worsen with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and West Ham yet to play – increasing their fears of a first top-flight relegation since 1977.
Spurs' winless run in the league now stands at 15 matches, just one short of the club's worst-ever winless league run set 91 years ago.
It is bottom club Wolves – who will be relegated if West Ham earn at least a point against Crystal Palace on Monday – against whom Spurs will seek to avoid equalling that streak endured between 1934 and 1935.
Only the Championship's rock-bottom club Sheffield Wednesday have picked up fewer points (four) than Spurs (six) across English football's top four tiers in 2026.
De Zerbi has been clear that his immediate attention is on restoring confidence in a group of players who have now failed to win each of their last five Premier League games in which they have led.
There were signs of encouragement for the former Seagulls boss in that regard, as his players demonstrated the fight they must show over their remaining games in going toe-to-toe with the league's form team.
Spurs travel to Wolves next weekend, then face difficult trips to European hopefuls Aston Villa and Chelsea in search of crucial points.
The task for De Zerbi now is lifting his players after coming within only a few minutes of achieving a momentous victory, the devastation evident on his players' faces at the full-time whistle.
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