Tottenham: Comebacks raise concerns for Thomas Frank and Spurs as new mission made clear | OneFootball

Spurs managed to avoid defeat against Bodo/Glimt but a worrying theme is emerging under Thomas Frank

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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For the third time in four matches, Thomas Frank emerged for his post-match media duties and spoke on an increasingly familiar theme.

He had done likewise ten days earlier after the same scoreline against Brighton, and again after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Resilience, though, should be a trait to fall back on, a way to grind out a result when the team are not at their best. It should not be a defining characteristic.

Frank was right to praise his team against Brighton. Against tough opposition they played well, looked more balanced in attack than they have for much of the season and eventually got their reward for taking the game to Brighton.

However, the strength of character to come from behind should not be needed at home to Wolves, a side who went into the match without a Premier League point.

Joao Palhinha's stoppage-time strike earned Spurs a draw, but up until that stage they had not looked like scoring and it was still a poor result.

Against Bodo/Glimt, Spurs were dreadful on the ball and far too passive off it. They were deservedly 2-0 down and it should have been more.

Tottenham trailed against Bodo/Glimt before completing a comeback

Getty Images

Even after scrapping to earn a draw, it did not feel like this was a result earned by resilience or character. The late equaliser did not come about by a relentless wave of Spurs attacks, but by a Bodo/Glimt own goal out of nothing. Own goals are now Spurs' top scorer this season.

Coming from behind to pick up points is of course a positive but it should not be happening so regularly. More of a pressing concern for Frank should be why his side keep finding themselves in these positions.

"That can be various reasons," Frank offered as an explanation.

"I think against Wolves we had no problem controlling in the beginning. I think we were by far the best team against Wolves in the first half.

"I think Brighton was a different game. I think also we were by far the best team in the first half.

"Today I felt we struggled in the first half. So I think that's the only time we struggled in the three games against a very good Bodo team."

So I think that's the only time we struggled in the three games against a very good Bodo team

Thomas Frank

Frank is correct in that against Brighton and Wolves, Spurs had periods in the first half when they were on top and failed to make it count.

Against Bodo/Glimt, there was none of that. Spurs sat too deep, showed their hosts too much respect and it felt only a matter of time until they fell behind.

It was hard not to think that both Spurs and Frank needed to be more proactive.

The first-half approach obviously not work in the opening 45 minutes and yet there were no changes at the break. Instead, only once Spurs did fall behind did Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus get introduced.

The players also waited to be stung into action. After Jens Petter Hauge's opener, Rodrigo Bentancur flicked in a goal two minutes later, but was denied by VAR. Once Hauge made it 2-0, Micky van de Ven pulled one back within a couple of minutes.

It should not take falling behind to show some intent. Spurs are short of players in attack and the midfield balance is lacking, but they are still good enough to be more front-footed against the likes of Wolves and Bodo/Glimt.

Comebacks are fun and galvanising in small doses. They are also unsustainable.