What better way to escape the doom and gloom of last weekend, than to look back at the start of historic success for Spurs.

10th November 1984. A 2-1 win at the City Ground started a run of 16 league away games without defeat, and a title challenge that would be decided at home.

Spurs went to Nottingham in challenging circumstances. A week earlier they had lost 3-2 at home to West Brom, and Peter Shreeves, in his first season after taking over from UEFA Cup winning Keith Burkinshaw, was perhaps fearing the worst. What he needed was a reaction, and he got one. Micky Hazard and Tony Galvin scored to beat Brian Clough’s Forest 2-1 in front of a crowd of 21,306.

It didn’t look like a turning point at the time. It became one.

The run

Spurs would not lose another league game away from White Hart Lane for the rest of the season. Ipswich were beaten 3-0. Watford, Norwich and, on New Year’s Day, Arsenal all fell 2-1. In February, Mark Falco’s goal won at the Hawthorns, and Garth Crooks did the same at Stoke.

Then came 16 March 1985. Crooks pounced after Bruce Grobbelaar spilled Hazard’s volley, and Spurs won 1-0 at Anfield, their first win there since 1912, 73 years to the day. By then they were being talked about as champions.

From Forest to the final day, Spurs played 15 league away games: won 10, drew 5, lost none. The run reached 16 the following season.

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The catch

The problem was at home. After Anfield, Spurs lost five times at White Hart Lane, including a 2-1 defeat by Everton in April that effectively decided the title. Everton won the league, and Spurs finished third on 77 points.

Over the season they took 41 points away and only 36 at home. They won more games on the road (12) than at the Lane (11) and conceded 20 away goals against 31 at home. A Tottenham side harder to beat away from home than in N17 is oddly similar to the current Spurs vintage.

Why it still matters

That 1984-85 team, with Hoddle, Ardiles, Clemence, Roberts, Falco and Crooks, is often remembered for nearly winning the league. The away run is the reason it got close. It was a team that could go to Anfield, Highbury and the City Ground and win, something Spurs have rarely managed since.

After Saturday’s defeat at Elland Road, De Zerbi’s side would settle for half of it.