Barclays Premier League: Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur Highlights Video, Match Report, Goal Videos
Played at Venue: Ewood Park Date: Saturday, 19 December 2009
Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Report:
The England striker headed home a Niko Kranjcar cross on the stroke of half-time, before making the points safe with a goal on the break late on.
Blackburn dominated throughout, with Benni McCarthy twice hitting the woodwork, but it was Spurs who were more clinical with their finishing.
The win sees Harry Redknapp's side move to within a point of second-placed Manchester United, while Rovers are now without a win in six.
The two teams arrived at Ewood Park on the back of contrasting results in midweek. Rovers made six changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Birmingham City, with Lars Jacobsen coming in for the unwell Chris Samba and Michel Salgado making only his second league start, in an unfamiliar right-wing role, in place of the injured Brett Emerton.
Spurs meanwhile named an unchanged side following Wednesday night's impressive 3-0 win over top-four challengers Manchester City.
The hosts made the better start, with the returning McCarthy causing problems early on. On nine minutes, he supplied a brilliant ball in from the right, which Michael Dawson failed to clear, but Franco di Santo could not make a clean connection with his shot.
Five minutes later, Dawson fouled David Hoilett over on the left and McCarthy's inswinging free-kick looped off Aaron Lennon and landed on the top of the bar.
The visitors' first attempt at goal came midway through the half, when Kranjcar played in Jermain Defoe, who fired wide of the far post.
Rovers again threatened, with Hoilett shooting straight at Heurelho Gomes from the edge of the box after a jinking run, before their best chance of the half dropped to di Santo.
After playing a neat one-two with McCarthy, the South African lifted the ball over to his strike partner, whose volley was well kept out by the Spurs keeper.
But despite dominating for much of the opening period, Spurs struck right at the death. One minute came up on the fourth official's board, but 90 seconds into added time, Kranjcar retrieved Tom Huddlestone's sliced shot over on the right and his cross was headed home by the towering Crouch via the woodwork.
Rovers continued to press after the interval and almost equalised eight minutes in. Vince Grella crossed from the right, McCarthy brought the ball down brilliantly on his chest, but his shot, through the legs of Gomes, bounced back off the post and Sebastien Bassong just got in ahead of di Santo to clear.
Further chances came the way of the home team, with di Santo looking to curl one and Steven N'Zonzi then stinging the gloves of Gomes.
Crouch thought he'd added a second when he stooped to head home Lennon's cross on 79 minutes, but he had just strayed offside.
However, the striker did make the points safe seven minutes from time, when substitute Jermaine Jenas flicked a long ball forward into his path and Crouch made no mistake, firing a crisp shot past Paul Robinson.
Blackburn v Tottenham EPL Highlights Video
45:00+1:31 GOAL - Peter Crouch:(Blackburn 0 - 1 Tottenham) Huddlestone hits a shot way off target - it doesn't even go out of play - the ball is crossed back in by Kranjcar and CROUCH heads home.
82:02 GOAL - Peter Crouch:(Blackburn 0 - 2 Tottenham) A goal is scored by Peter Crouch from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"It's very disappointing to suffer two straight losses, and it's something I didn't expect us to get from our last two games, I must say.
"Unfortunately we have come up against a Peter Crouch in top form in front of goal and we haven't got anything out of a game that perhaps we deserved to.
"We have made a very, very good Tottenham side struggle. Their first goal was in the second minute of added time in the first half when there should only have been one additional minute, and we think it was a blatant foul by Crouch on the centre-half Ryan Nelsen too.
"We responded well, though, pushed them on to the back foot and we've had a chance at 1-0 - Benni McCarthy's - that 99 times out of 100 he would score. Credit to the keeper, he has spread himself and it's deflected onto the post, and in the end in the latter stages we've been caught on the break.
"In the end, it's Crouch who has made the difference."
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp:
"It was not a pretty game but one Tottenham may have lost in the past. It was a great result for us. It was a tough match but we have collected three points and kept a clean sheet away from home. I have to be pleased with that.
"It was not free-flowing football like it was in midweek against Manchester City. However we were solid at the back and the goalkeeper did well for us.
"We have a good group of lads and I do not have any problems with them. Crouchy got two good goals and deserved to get on the scoresheet. He works hard for the team.
"I thought we were fortunate to be 1-0 up at half-time but Jenas gave us a lot of energy when he came on and Robbie also hand a hand in the second goal, so it was a good day for us."
Played at Venue: Ewood Park Date: Saturday, 19 December 2009
Peter Crouch's brace sent Blackburn to a rare home defeat as Tottenham kept up their top-four push with a dogged win. Peter Crouch scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur's quest for a top-four finish continued with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Report:
The England striker headed home a Niko Kranjcar cross on the stroke of half-time, before making the points safe with a goal on the break late on.
Blackburn dominated throughout, with Benni McCarthy twice hitting the woodwork, but it was Spurs who were more clinical with their finishing.
The win sees Harry Redknapp's side move to within a point of second-placed Manchester United, while Rovers are now without a win in six.
The two teams arrived at Ewood Park on the back of contrasting results in midweek. Rovers made six changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Birmingham City, with Lars Jacobsen coming in for the unwell Chris Samba and Michel Salgado making only his second league start, in an unfamiliar right-wing role, in place of the injured Brett Emerton.
Spurs meanwhile named an unchanged side following Wednesday night's impressive 3-0 win over top-four challengers Manchester City.
The hosts made the better start, with the returning McCarthy causing problems early on. On nine minutes, he supplied a brilliant ball in from the right, which Michael Dawson failed to clear, but Franco di Santo could not make a clean connection with his shot.
Five minutes later, Dawson fouled David Hoilett over on the left and McCarthy's inswinging free-kick looped off Aaron Lennon and landed on the top of the bar.
The visitors' first attempt at goal came midway through the half, when Kranjcar played in Jermain Defoe, who fired wide of the far post.
Rovers again threatened, with Hoilett shooting straight at Heurelho Gomes from the edge of the box after a jinking run, before their best chance of the half dropped to di Santo.
After playing a neat one-two with McCarthy, the South African lifted the ball over to his strike partner, whose volley was well kept out by the Spurs keeper.
But despite dominating for much of the opening period, Spurs struck right at the death. One minute came up on the fourth official's board, but 90 seconds into added time, Kranjcar retrieved Tom Huddlestone's sliced shot over on the right and his cross was headed home by the towering Crouch via the woodwork.
Rovers continued to press after the interval and almost equalised eight minutes in. Vince Grella crossed from the right, McCarthy brought the ball down brilliantly on his chest, but his shot, through the legs of Gomes, bounced back off the post and Sebastien Bassong just got in ahead of di Santo to clear.
Further chances came the way of the home team, with di Santo looking to curl one and Steven N'Zonzi then stinging the gloves of Gomes.
Crouch thought he'd added a second when he stooped to head home Lennon's cross on 79 minutes, but he had just strayed offside.
However, the striker did make the points safe seven minutes from time, when substitute Jermaine Jenas flicked a long ball forward into his path and Crouch made no mistake, firing a crisp shot past Paul Robinson.
Blackburn v Tottenham EPL Highlights Video
45:00+1:31 GOAL - Peter Crouch:(Blackburn 0 - 1 Tottenham) Huddlestone hits a shot way off target - it doesn't even go out of play - the ball is crossed back in by Kranjcar and CROUCH heads home.
82:02 GOAL - Peter Crouch:(Blackburn 0 - 2 Tottenham) A goal is scored by Peter Crouch from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"It's very disappointing to suffer two straight losses, and it's something I didn't expect us to get from our last two games, I must say.
"Unfortunately we have come up against a Peter Crouch in top form in front of goal and we haven't got anything out of a game that perhaps we deserved to.
"We have made a very, very good Tottenham side struggle. Their first goal was in the second minute of added time in the first half when there should only have been one additional minute, and we think it was a blatant foul by Crouch on the centre-half Ryan Nelsen too.
"We responded well, though, pushed them on to the back foot and we've had a chance at 1-0 - Benni McCarthy's - that 99 times out of 100 he would score. Credit to the keeper, he has spread himself and it's deflected onto the post, and in the end in the latter stages we've been caught on the break.
"In the end, it's Crouch who has made the difference."
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp:
"It was not a pretty game but one Tottenham may have lost in the past. It was a great result for us. It was a tough match but we have collected three points and kept a clean sheet away from home. I have to be pleased with that.
"It was not free-flowing football like it was in midweek against Manchester City. However we were solid at the back and the goalkeeper did well for us.
"We have a good group of lads and I do not have any problems with them. Crouchy got two good goals and deserved to get on the scoresheet. He works hard for the team.
"I thought we were fortunate to be 1-0 up at half-time but Jenas gave us a lot of energy when he came on and Robbie also hand a hand in the second goal, so it was a good day for us."
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