Tottenham still a work in progress but future is brighter in Ange Postecoglou's second season

New season, same old Tottenham , who began the campaign with a frustrating draw which followed an all-too-familiar script.

Spurs were quick out of the blocks and dominated the newly-promoted Leicester in the first half, with Pedro Porro's deft header breaking the deadlock.

But either side of the full-back's well-taken goal, the visitors squandered a succession of chances and were made to pay when the irrepressible Jamie Vardy, on the back of just two days training this summer, nodded Leicester level just before the hour.

It was an alarming lapse of concentration from Spurs, notably defenders Porro and Cristian Romero, to leave Vardy, 37, free at the back post, while their loss of control after the equaliser was another concern.

Leicester might have won it, with Vardy forcing a smart save from Guglielmo Vicario, before a nasty-looking head injury for Rodrigo Bentancur, who was carried off on a stretcher, impacted the hosts' momentum.

It was Spurs who came closest to a late winner, though, substitute Richarlison heading wide with the final touch of the game to leave Ange Postecoglou slumped over, his hands on his knees, visibly deflated.

For the head coach and many of the travelling supporters, it must have felt like deja vu.

Last night was only Spurs' seventh draw under Postecoglou, but the performance nonetheless felt characteristic; failing to capitalise on spells of dominance, switching off defensively and squandering control were among the hallmarks of the Australian's first year in charge, as the squad acclimated to his up-tempo, attacking football.

For the majority of the second half of last season, Spurs were only capable of playing 'Ange-ball' in bursts and were often an inch, a second or a touch away from clicking in the final third.

Spurs remain a work in progress; understandably, this project is likely to be a slower burn than Postecoglou's previous jobs

"The overall performance of everyone was okay, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't turn that into outcomes," Postecoglou said. "We had similar issues last year, and if we're going to get to the next level as a team and bridge the gap to the top sides, it is an area of the game we need to improve.

"Just really disappointed we lacked a cutting edge in the front third, made some poor decisions, lacked some composure and didn't get the reward our football deserved."

The frustration, and perhaps concern, is that Spurs are supposed to be moving beyond their teething pains. Postecoglou has never failed to win the title in his second season at a club, and expects his teams to be more consistent and durable after a year exposed to his methods. It is still early days, of course, but Monday night was a reminder that Spurs remain a work in progress; understandably, this project is likely to be a slower burn than Postecoglou's previous jobs in Australia, Japan and Scotland.

That said, they could have been out of sight by half-time against Steve Cooper's side.

Bentancur had a header hooked off the line, and Dominic Solanke twice sent headers too close to Leicester's Mads Hermansen.

Solanke also tested the goalkeeper in the second half of what was a frustrating debut, although there was plenty of encouragement for the £65million record signing from Bournemouth, who held up the ball and linked up well with his new team-mates.

When Solanke is up to speed, Spurs can expect to be more clinical, particularly with James Maddison looking back to his confident best in a fizzy first-half display.

Teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both 18, were among a raft of second-half changes (Gray was actually a concussion substitute in place of Bentancur, who was able to walk out of the stadium sporting a shiner on his forehead), offering a reminder that Spurs are a young squad, still learning and surely building for the title next season, rather than this term.

Spurs also began last season with a 1-1 draw at Brentford but went on to win eight of the next nine games, storming to the top of the table and sparking talk of a title tilt.

For all the frustration on Tuesday morning, that is a script Postecoglou and supporters would be much happier to follow.

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