Thrilling goals. Creativity. Dribbly runs. Plenty to celebrate at the Lane but we all know that the abiding emotion after this precious win was relief. The fans’ faces after 85 minutes looked as if we were 5-0 down. That’s what Spurs do to you.

I confess I had sunk to the depths, each match beginning with a familiar flicker of optimism five minutes before kick-off, then the game itself becomes something to endure rather than enjoy. I don’t know the Latin for something will always go wrong but that’s my current Spurs motto. The only thing that changes is the inventive ways we find to undermine ourselves.  Van Hecke knows the drill. A success at Brighton, wanted by our manager, a World Cup performer, come to Spurs and a couple of quick Villa and Man U forwards leave him stranded upfield like a beached whale, then yesterday why not give the ball away when we’re on top, because that’s what happens at Spurs these days.

The head says, we’ve been playing well and improving. Give it time. Building a side takes patience. I know that and believe that, especially because of the long legacy of incompetence and neglect on and off the pitch to unravel. But fatalism takes hold. The wrong approach, admittedly. Counter to my belief system, where I dislike intensely the concept of fate, that bad things happen for a reason, because it denies human agency. I cannot even remain loyal to my own self.

But things are finally changing. Maddison is here. Longhair and hair band amidst the short back and sides and meticulous fades, he wants to look different, be different and be a difference maker. A free spirit amidst the grafters, unfettered by rigid positional expectations. A goal to lift the spirits and gladden hearts dulled by the mediocrity of the past 18 months. A goal and a performance to transform the way we see the team.

In my last piece I bemoaned the lack of heart in this Tottenham side. Maddison is determined to fill that vacuum. He’s there, passing a fitness test measured less by the minutes in his legs and more by his glass legs holding up even as our opponents aided his bid to reclaim his crown of being the most fouled player in the league. But back isn’t the right word. He’s not back, not the old Maddison at any rate, because this re-energised version is different. His enforced absence sharpened his appetite not just to play but to be the key figure in the team. He’s filled out his character traits to be a leader, an inspiring figure who his teammates clearly respect and listen to, full of infectious ebullience and positivity.

The manager created a formation that allowed his freedom of expression, with bodies around him in midfield so he could roam and be himself, sometimes drifting left, sometimes dropping back to pick the ball up from deeper, which Ange wasn’t keen on him doing. This is a better version of Maddison, an achiever rather than a luxury. A winner.

Kulusevski is back too, looking understandably anxious but then he always looks like that. Let’s temper expectations and allow him the months that it will take for him to regain his full fitness, bearing in mind the effort we had become accustomed to seeing from him.

With the focus justifiably on our returning players, another significant aspect of last night’s win should not be lost. De Zerbi had the confidence in his players to try something different and somewhat unusual. Three central defenders at the back and a lop-sided formation allowed extra bodies in midfield and gave Maddison and Kudus room to do what they do best. Maddison freer, Tonali filling gaps and starting attacks, Gray trusted not only to take up a midfield role he’s seldom played at Spurs but also to drift right both to cover space behind Kudus and get in between the centre back and full-back.

This and more provides valuable options but it left us uncertain at times, and I’m not sure how effective it would be against teams better than this Coventry side. However, that’s not the point. This idea of movement, rotation and flexibility on the field, it’s the way to go but it’s hard to instil in a team. It takes time, which for us has been a luxury we could not afford for the best part of 18 months because of our precarious league position, the injuries and the managerial churn. De Zerbi trusted his players to make sense of this, and his faith was rewarded. He’s talked about the trip to Spain and team-bonding. It felt as if for the first time, his side embodied his principles.

Pluses: Tonali fit, mobile, working very hard and looking like the player we need in midfield, covering gaps and starting attacks. Gray had a good game too. He’s able, calm and mature beyond his years, I really like him. Tosin strong in the box, while Tel seemed to be in control of his game, cutting out mistakes and rash decisions.

Worries: Solanke. He’s fit – against Man U he ran further than any Spurs player but remains little threat in the box. The Bournemouth Solanke would be ideal for this team, converting crosses, pressing and holding the ball. I hope he can find that form again.

Sadly I missed the game. Somehow the equation between dogs in family homes and family members could not be resolved without me staying in. How times have changed. How it used to be: family events missed, relationships curtailed, I once declined a job interview because it clashed with Spurs at home to Ajax. Now, I am reduced to apologising to a golden retriever for my swearing. He seemed grateful, though. He understands the seriousness of giving the ball away in injury time. I could tell by the look in his eyes.