It is both a blessing and a curse that Tottenham face West Ham this weekend.
After their abject second half at Brighton, Spurs fans have spent the international break grinding their teeth in frustration, despite a decent run of form that preceded the game at Amex Stadium.
They will return to action against a Hammers side whose recent fortunes have been the reverse of Spurs' - their wretched run of form ending just before the two-week hiatus with a relatively comfortable dismantling of newly promoted Ipswich.
This is just one of the issues that surrounds Saturday lunchtime's game: just who exactly is in the better form?
Games against West Ham - just like against Arsenal and against Chelsea - are one of a set Tottenham must negotiate each year that are full blooded, unpredictable and difficult to move on from if you lose.
It is quite unfortunate that Ange Postecoglou's side have six vital, hotly contested fixtures like this to deal with on an annual basis. Most teams really only need to deal with bitter local rivals twice a season.
It is therefore an occupational hazard for these Spurs players. Whether they like it or not, high-pressure, high-expectation matches will keep coming.
West Ham fans enjoy nothing more than beating Spurs - especially away from home - and their fans will demand more from their players this weekend than at any stage this season so far.
So even though it will be a huge challenge, Tottenham fans and players know how rewarding success would be.
That second half against Brighton would suddenly look like a pretty insignificant blip.