Instead, it was Rutter and Brighton who had the last laugh as Spurs’ winless run in the league stretched to 15 games.
Spurs show huge improvement in galling draw
Spurs looked to be on their way to a crucial three points when Simons struck with just over 10 minutes to play to deliver a cathartic moment in a season so short of inspiration.
Nothing is ever straightforward with this club, though, and Rutter’s equaliser was a sucker punch that Spurs simply had no answers to as they sank to the ground in despair.
A draw is not a particularly useful result for Spurs, who remain in the relegation zone, but regardless, they can take great encouragement from a performance that had all the hallmarks of their spirited manager.
Georginio Rutter broke Tottenham hearts with his last-gasp equaliser
PA
De Zerbi has made a point of getting around his players on the training ground, holding one-to-one conversations in a bid to restore belief.
While Spurs will continue waiting for their first league win of the year, De Zerbi’s energy and confidence streamed through his side’s performance.
Heading into the final five games of the season, Spurs must take the positives from tonight’s performance, which was agressive and decisive in vital moments.
While their concentration let them down, they will know how close they came to getting three points.
James Maddison makes long-awaited return
De Zerbi downplayed James Maddison’s chances of returning to the pitch this season in his pre-match press conference.
But in a matchday squad full of surprises, Maddison’s inclusion on the bench for the first time this season was easily the biggest shock of them all on an afternoon where his replacement took centre stage.
The English midfielder has been out since August, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Spurs’ pre-season friendly with Newcastle United in South Korea.
All smiles: James Maddison is back in the fold for Tottenham
Getty
It has been a long road to recovery for Maddison, but he has been training with the first team for a while and heading into the final five games of the season, it seems he will have a role to play.
Maddison’s return is not only a major boost for a Spurs side that has lacked a creative outlet this term, but his influence in and around the dressing room is invaluable as De Zerbi looks for leaders in the final weeks of the season.
He may not have got on the pitch, instead heading down the tunnel to watch the closing stages, but he was back on the field after the full-time whistle to console his team-mates.
His return is the sort of pick-me-up Spurs need as they try to regroup after another difficult result.
Xavi Simons denied magic moment
It seems remarkable that it has taken this long for a Tottenham manager to trust Xavi Simons.
Spurs’ lack of a creative identity has been perhaps the most glaring issue in a side riddled with problems, so to bring in Simons for his first start since the beginning of March felt like a no-brainer.
Xavi Simons made little attempt to hide his frustration at full-time
PA
The Dutchman was quiet in the opening stages, but exploded into the game right before the half-time, crafting the opening goal with a deft cross for the onrushing Porro before striking the post minutes later.
Playing off the left rather than through the middle, Simons relished the responsibility, and his strike with just over 10 minutes looked to have helped guide Spurs to their first league win in 111 days.
A strike of that quality, under such pressure, ought to have been the winning moment, but alas, Spurs remain in the bottom three, even if they can take great encouragement from their performance.
De Zerbi has always operated with a No10 at the heart of his system, and Simons stepped up to prove he could be the man to help steer Spurs to safety.
