It is amazing how quickly the outlook for a club can change.
25 minutes into Monday's derby with Chelsea, Tottenham were on course to return to the top of the Premier League table and looked well-placed for a comfortable win over their rivals, which would have sent giddy optimism about their season soaring.
Four days on, the mood feels altogether more sober going into Saturday's early kick-off at Wolves, after Spurs's implosion against the Blues.
There is no doom or gloom, and for many fans the team's bravery and commitment with nine men only strengthened long-term belief in Ange Postecoglou's approach.
In the here and now, however, there are jitters over how Spurs will cope with the damaging fallout from a chaotic, controversy-packed 4-1 defeat.
Fans had begun to invest hope into a season which started by feeling like a free-hit, with the club's record-breaking start under Postecoglou raising belief in a special campaign, which suddenly feels fraught with risk.
Most concerning is the injury to Micky van de Ven, who is set to be sidelined for a significant period with the hamstring problem he sustained against Chelsea.
The Dutchman had quickly established himself as one of the team's most important players, and his absence will make it harder for Spurs to execute Postecoglou's high defensive line successfully. He does not need surgery, a small blessing, but will still be out for a couple of months.
Compounding the problem, Cristian Romero will also be missing at Molineux and for two further games (against Aston Villa and Manchester City) through suspension, leaving Postecoglou without either of his first-choice centre-backs and short of cover.
Step forward Eric Dier, although who partners the England international is unclear.
Ashley Phillips, an 18-year-old signed from Blackburn in the summer, is the only other natural centre-back in the squad, but Postecoglou may decide that Emerson Royal, Ben Davies or even Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are safer picks.
For all Phillips's potential, there is a good reason teenagers are rarely trusted at centre-back in the Premier League, although Postecoglou has already proven a powerful advocate of youth at Spurs, thrusting Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr straight into the first XI.
Udogie also misses out on Saturday through suspension, albeit just a one-match ban for two bookings on Monday, with Emerson or Davies to deputise at left-back.
At the other end of the pitch, Spurs's attacking options are not quite as threadbare yet, but since the Chelsea game Postecoglou has lost James Maddison and Richarlison, the latter having minor groin surgery on Thursday which is expected to rule him out until next month.
The absence of the Brazilian leaves the Spurs head coach now lacking four options for the left-wing berth, as Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon and Ryan Sessegnon are all long-term injury absentees.
Maddison withdrew from the England squad with the ankle injury which forced him off against Chelsea, with Postecoglou subsequently confirming that the issue is much worse than first thought and will keep him out until the New Year.
Giovani Lo Celso is on standby for his first League start in more than two years — a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in October 2021 — or Rodrigo Bentancur's staggered return from an ACL injury could be accelerated.
The only senior attacker on the bench on Saturday is likely to be Bryan Gil, whose solitary appearance this season was an 89th-minute cameo in the win over Crystal Palace.
Postecoglou is, in short, facing an injury crisis, and the upcoming international break will be a welcome relief, giving Spurs a chance to regroup.
Had they kept their cool against Chelsea and gone on to win the game without suffering such damaging injuries or suspensions, tomorrow's visit to Wolves would feel like another test of their title credentials and their ability to cope with the pressure of topping the table. As it is, Spurs now go into the game under a different kind of pressure, aiming to respond to a setback for the first time under the Australian.
"A special first season under Ange Postecoglou now suddenly feels fraught with risk for Tottenham"
It is one thing for young teams to win when they have momentum, confidence and their best XI available, but quite another when they have suffered a major defeat and are without several key players.
Gary O'Neil's Wolves, who are missing their own star in Pedro Neto, are sure to make life difficult for the visitors by sitting back, challenging them to find a way through and trying to counter behind Postecoglou's high line.
It will be a real test, and a chance to find out a little more about the character and quality of this Spurs team, not to mention their squad depth.
