If Spurs' fans were dispirited by their team's continuing ill-fortune, it was not on show - and their vociferous support was almost rewarded after 22 minutes when Myhill turned Bale's long-range free-kick on to the bar.
Modern computerisation projects, in contrast, tend to have far more in common with Babbage's ill-fated attempt to build a mechanical computer, which cost a fortune and was eventually abandoned.