Ange Postecoglou stood by the end of the tunnel to applaud every last one of his Tottenham players from the pitch.
It had been a most untypical performance, back at the venue where his Spurs tenure began and yet the show of defensive grit and resilience, qualities they have been accused of lacking in recent weeks, and the precious they were taking back across London, had clearly made him a very proud manager.
'Difficult place to come, difficult place to win at, difficult place to keep them out,' said Postecoglou, with nod to Brentford's fine home record.