Tottenham 2-0 Blackburn - Match Report
Tottenham cruised to a 2-0 victory over a lifeless Blackburn side, in a game that was lit up by a sensational second-half free-kick from Kyle Walker, and moves Spurs back into the Champions League places.
Tottenham cruised to a 2-0 victory over a lifeless Blackburn side, in a game that was lit up by a sensational second-half free-kick from Kyle Walker, and moves Spurs back into the Champions League places. It was a particularly insipid performance from Rovers who failed to register a single shot of any kind and now face the possibility of being relegated next Monday when they face Wigan. Tottenham, on the other hand, dominated from start to finish and having taken the lead through Rafael van der Vaart half-way through the first period there was only ever going to be one outcome to this match. Aaron Lennon missed a glorious opportunity to put his side 1-0 up within the first 60 seconds of the game but the winger failed to put the ball in the net after superb play by Luka Modric down the left. The Croatian burst through the Blackburn ranks and squared the ball to the back post where Lennon was arriving but he could only find the side netting. Sandro was the next to try his luck running at Rovers' defence and the Brazilian powered past several defenders before finally being dispossessed as he attempted to find a team-mate in the box. But the central midfielder didn't have to wait long for another sight at goal and he was desperately unlucky to see his sweetly struck effort from 25 yards come crashing back off the underside of the bar. Tottenham broke the deadlock after 22 minutes through Van der Vaart who poked home after Gareth Bale's header had been deflected onto the bar. There was initial debate as to whether the ball had crossed the line but replays confirmed that the officials had got it right on this occasion. Aaron Lennon stood the ball up for Bale at the back post but his header was nodded onto the underside of the bar by Scott Dann and as the ball fell into the six-yard box Van der Vaart was on hand to steer the home-side into the lead despite Dann's best efforts on the goal line. The lively Lennon was next to run at the Blackburn back four but his final shot was a wild swing of the left boot that saw the ball sail way over the bar. After his early sighter Sandro looked keen to chance his arm from distance at every opportunity but he saw two long range efforts blocked when they looked to be on course for the net. And the woodwork came into play once again just before half-time when William Gallas' front post header from a corner came back off the bar. It was a dominant first-half display from the home-side, with Sandro and Modric running the game, and Harry Redknapp may have been a little disappointed that his side hadn't added to Van der Vaart's goal. Half-time Lennon wasted a decent chance early in the second half after some good link-up play between Modric and Emmanuel Adebayor, but the England international saw his shot again hit the side netting when he probably should have squared it for Modric. Rovers' fans won't have been happy with the way their side began the second half, allowing Tottenham all the possession and after an hour of play the away team had still not registered an attempt on goal of any kind. Tottenham were happy to pass the ball around without particularly pushing for a second goal, although Modric and Bale both dragged shots wide of Paul Robinson's goal. Bale then worked some space and tried his luck from distance but his left-foot shot was comfortably saved by Robinson. Tottenham's dominance continued without Blackburn offering anything in an attacking sense, and Steve Kean attempted to change things up front by replacing Yakubu for Anthony Modeste. This did little to change Blackburn's play and the game continued much in the same vein as the first half. Then, after 75 minutes, as the game looked to have petered out, Tottenham won a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Walker was the unexpected taker and he bent a sublime effort round the Blackburn wall and right into the top corner of Robinson's goal. It was a spectacular strike from the young full-back who has further strengthened his case to start for England in this summer's European Championships, following his PFA Young Player of the Year award earlier in the week. It was a moment of brilliance in a game in which Tottenham rarely had to move out of second gear, but the victory was an important one for Redknapp's men who move back above Newcastle and Chelsea into that all important fourth place in the table. As for Blackburn, they remain in 19th place, three points from safety, but it will be the lifeless nature of the performance by Kean's side that will really concern the Rovers' faithful. Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Friedal, Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Rose, Lennon (Giovani, 84), Sandro (Livermore, 86), Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart (Defoe, 88), Adebayor. Blackburn (4-4-1-1): Robinson, Orr, Dann, Givet, Marcus Olsson, Lowe, Dunn (Goodwillie, 84), Formica, Pedersen, Hoilett, Yakubu (Modeste, 72).