The biggest compliment you can pay a team such as Manchester City is trying to kick them off the park. Tottenham's tackling at the Etihad smacked of frustration.
Frustration that, having been bridesmaids in the Premier League for each of the past two years, Spurs have been leapfrogged by a side who finished eight points behind them last season.
Tottenham are not used to being embarrassed in the manner they were on Saturday evening.
When it is your chance to play the league's top teams, you are desperate to make it count.