Tottenham will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit against AC Milan to reach the Champions League quarter-final but a 1-0 defeat in the last-16 first leg could not be blamed on their rookie midfield of Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr.
Instead, it was World Cup winner Cristian Romero who made the mistake for Milan's winning goal in the seventh minute, the Argentine centre-half meekly losing out to Theo Hernandez in the air before Brahim Diaz bundled over the line at the second attempt, in spite of Fraser Forster's best efforts.
It was another frustrating defensive lapse from a Spurs side who have been undone time and again by individual errors at pressure points in their season, and must now beat Milan at home on March 8 to keep their European adventure alive.
Spurs can take heart from Milan's relative lack of threat at the San Siro, and encouraging performances from youngsters Skipp and Sarr, who more than held their own in the midfield two on the biggest night of their fledgling careers.
The pair had only played a combined 58 minutes in this competition before the game but fears that Spurs would be totally overrun in midfield proved unfounded, and they quickly established a foothold after Diaz's goal, enjoying the lion's share of possession but struggling to carve out chances.
Sarr, in particular, took his opportunity in a standout display on his first appearance in the Champions League.
The Senegal international was unfazed by the occasion and often looked the most composed Spurs player as he recycled possession and snapped into tackles in the face of Milan's midfield pressure.
The 20-year-old was even assured enough to demand more from his teammates. After 35 minutes, he skipped around Oliver Giroud in the centre circle and looked to drive forward, only to find too many static white shirts ahead of him and fling out his arms in frustration.
Skipp was also calm and intelligent in possession, quick to find a teammate with either foot and spray a ball forward. The 22-year-old also broke up the play more than once with a well-timed challenge in a tenacious display.
Of the pair, Sarr is a more natural fit to partner Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the fill the gaping hole left by Rodrigo Bentancur - out for the rest of the season with a ruptured ACL - in second leg and foreseeable future, at least until Yves Bissouma recovers from ankle surgery in around seven weeks' time.
If there is a silver lining to Spurs' sudden midfield injury crisis, it could be the making of Sarr, who did not manage a single appearance before the World Cup and was making only his third start for the club against the Italian champions.
Skipp, too, will benefit from more game-time after seeming to go backwards in the past year due to a succession of injuries and Conte's reluctance to rotate.
That said, Spurs missed the drive, poise and creativity of Bentancur, as well as the goal threat offered by the Uruguayan and the suspended Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who netted the winner against Marseille to book their place in the knockouts.
With Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son underwhelming again, Spurs did little with their possession and the dynamic Bentancur would surely have made a difference in driving them forward from the base of midfield.
In time, Sarr and Skipp will surely grow to be more assertive and Spurs will hope by the time the second leg comes around, one or both of the pair are fully up to speed and ready to play their part in a comeback.
