Tottenham signed off the season with a 4-1 home defeat to Brighton – before parading the Europa League trophy around their stadium in a carnival atmosphere.
Leading at half-time through Dominic Solanke’s penalty, Spurs were overrun after the break by the Seagulls, who were still in with an outside chance of a European place going into the match.
A Jack Hinshelwood double turned the match on its head, and Matt O’Riley’s penalty and a brilliant Diego Gomez strike wrapped up a convincing comeback.
Here are two Spurs talking points from the match…
Occasion may only have increased Levy’s indecision
A 22nd league defeat of the season confirmed Spurs as the worst-of-the-rest, 17th in the table in their lowest finish since their relegation from the top flight in 1977.
The game itself, though, was always secondary to the opportunity for supporters to continue celebrating the club’s historic triumph in Bilbao on Wednesday, and they used the occasion to show their support for head coach Ange Postecoglou.
For the first time in months – and possibly all season – rolling chants of, ‘Ooohh Ange Postecoglou’ descended from the single-tier South Stand at intervals throughout the afternoon, as fans serenaded the coach who delivered a first European trophy in 41 years.
Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, watched on stony-faced as usual, and is thought to remain undecided over Postecoglou’s future after a season of extremes.
And the occasion may only have increased Levy’s indecision.
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The mood before kick-off and during the post-match lap of appreciation was as positive as it has been at the club since 2019, when Spurs were preparing for the Champions League Final.
There were genuinely emotional scenes in the build-up as fans twirled flags and re-lived Wednesday’s moment in Bilbao, while there was barely an empty seat afterwards, as fans stayed put for one final party before the summer break.
When Brighton’s fourth went in, Gomez curling home the pick of the game’s goals from 25 yards, Spurs fans responded with a rousing rendition of ‘Oh when the Spurs’, making it plain that this result – and perhaps the league season as a whole – do not matter.
Sacking Postecoglou's threatens that unity and would be a huge call for Levy to make, particularly as the chairman is himself divisive and there is no especially compelling alternative available.
Levy, though, will have to consider a paltry haul of just 38 points in a campaign which has seen 22 defeats from 38 games, including a limp second half here which raised further questions about their league form.
But what can we learn from this game?
That said, judging Spurs on the evidence of this game was arguably unfair in the context of their preparations.
Postecoglou’s squad have been partying for the best part of three days and it was hardly a surprise that they faded badly in the second half, with Destiny Udogie, in particular, barely able to run in the final ten minutes and caught upfield for the move leading to Brighton’s third goal.
The way Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls left the hosts with no answers after the visiting manager switched his system and introduced Gomes and Kaoru Mitoma at the break this season was a concern, however.
It was reminiscent of the way Brighton turned around the game from 2-0 down at the Amex to beat Spurs back in October.
Was this evidence of Postecoglou struggling to adapt in-game in the Premier League or a natural consequence of what was quite literally a collective European hangover?
Equally, there were a couple of glimpses of what a third season under Postecoglou may offer in a strong first half from the hosts.
Archie Gray produced easily his best 45 minutes in a Spurs shirt in his preferred position, snapping into tackles and driving forward with the ball from midfield. Gray is one of many young players who can be expected to improve.
And loanee Mathys Tel was bright from the left flank, getting into a series of dangerous positions in the first 20 minutes and making it count when he drove inside and was caught by Mats Wieffer for the penalty.
The Frenchman's future is undecided, with Spurs assessing their option to sign him permanently from Bayern Munich, but he has shown glimpses to suggest he is a good young player who can be developed.
Though Spurs' lead lasted just six minutes of the seconnd half, Postecoglou could perhaps point out that with most of his first team available in the league and the players confident, as they were from the start here, Spurs could be a totally different prospect in the top-flight next season.
And that is one of the big questions for Levy to consider. Will Spurs be transformed under Postecoglou next term with this historic European success under their belts? Or is there a danger that they will simply continue where they left off?
