Rovers Fightback To Register Stunning Victory

[Guest Kamy100]

Rovers secured three crucial points at Ewood Park yesterday in a remarkable match against Tottenham.

Going into the match Rovers were 2 points clear of the relegation zone with manager Sam Allardyce saying that if the club was to succeed in their fight against relegation then it was crucial to win Home games.

Rovers began the game brightly with Diouf and Pedersen wasting good opportunities to give Rovers the lead. Tottenham gradually began to take control of the game, Robinson made a great save from Darren Bent. Spurs eventually took the lead on 30 minutes in controversial circumstances. Referee Peter Walton adjudged harshly that the excellent Givet had handled Aaron Lennon's cross and gave Spurs a penalty which Robbie Keane converted, despite protests from Rovers players that the ball was not on the spot. To make matters worse Rovers lost Pedersen (replaced by Dunn) and Roberts (replaced at half time by Ooijer) to injury.

The second half began with Samba being pushed forward to play as a emergency striker due to the injury to Roberts. Rovers pushed forward but created very little and indeed Spurs could have increased their lead with Jenas and Lennon wasting good chances. Rovers grew more desperate and Tuguy was brought on and Dunn was switched to central midfield, suddenly Rovers looked more threatening and ball retention was much better. Dunn induced two poor challenges from Winston Palacios for which he was booked and sent off. Rovers now had the momentum and on 82 minutes equalised. Great work by Samba led to the ball falling to Benni McCarthy, who had up till then had a very poor game, but like all great strikers he was in the right place at the right time and slid the ball passed Gomes to make it all square. Rovers pushed forward, Samba and Warnock were denied by Gomes. With the game heading into injury time Rovers won a corner. Diouf floated the ball across, it was missed by Gomes and the ball fell to Ooijer who smashed the ball home from 2 yards to secure a famous victory.

Rovers are now 5 points clear of the drop zone and within touching distance of safety. Next up they face a daunting game against title chasing Liverpool.

Match Quotes:

Sam Allardyce:

"It was desire, a bit of determination, overcoming adversity, never giving up, never saying die - which I don't think we've done since I've been here.

"It probably was one of our lesser performances but that doesn't matter; it's all about results.

"I'm sure Tottenham will feel the sending off is a bit harsh. But we overcome a bit of adversity in the penalty decision."

Harry Redknapp:

"I've got to say the referee made a big mistake sending Wilson off.

"We'd dominated the game and I couldn't see them scoring a goal if they'd played all night when we had 11.

"But to lose a midfield player who had probably been our biggest player today gave them a massive lift. From a game we had complete control of we've come away with nothing...unbelievable."

Match Stats:

Blackburn: Robinson, Andrews, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Diouf, Mokoena (Kerimoglu 63), Warnock, Pedersen (Dunn 26), Roberts (Ooijer 46), McCarthy.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Villanueva, Treacy, Olsson.

Booked: Samba.

Goals: McCarthy 82, Ooijer 89.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Zokora 83), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Bent, Keane.

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bentley, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Chimbonda.

Sent Off: Palacios (80).

Booked: Palacios.

Goals: Keane 30 pen.

Att: 21,891

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).