When Xavi Simons' knee gave way, many of us thought that was it. All season, when Spurs have come face to face with adversity, they have crumbled. It has left us questioning the players' desire and mental fortitude. But on Saturday they stood tall, and for the first time since relegation came calling, I felt a strange sense of hope. Survival no longer feels impossible, but we will have to graft for it.
There was very little to get excited about in this meat-and-potatoes 1-0 win, but right now, for a team that has lost the habit of winning, keeping pace while those around us picked up three points was crucial. We cannot allow the gap to safety to become a two-result swing.
Longer term, Xavi's ACL injury will force a rethink. He was our last creative passer and attacking midfielder left standing. With James Maddison seemingly reduced to a role on the bench as a cheerleader, we have no one left to knit together a makeshift front line and workmanlike midfield.
How Spurs line up against Villa may be one of the biggest tactical tests Roberto de Zerbi has faced. Since his arrival, our build-up play has improved, but our attacks continue to break down 18 yards from goal. The players receiving the ball look short of confidence in themselves and each other, or, more damningly, simply short of quality.
Against Wolves, we looked bright for the opening spell, but it did not take long for them to realise there was no real threat. It was like turning on the light in a child's bedroom and revealing that the monster in the corner was nothing more than a pile of clothes.
Despite that, there is something to cling to. The players are showing determination. They are throwing themselves into challenges, attacking loose balls, and we once again look a threat from set pieces.
There is nothing pretty about how we are playing, but when you are down in the mud, the only option is to embrace it. I would take four more scrappy 1-0 wins between now and the end of the season in a heartbeat. We are still in this fight, just.
Find more from Bardi at The Extra Inch – a Spurs podcast
