Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham 3 Blackburn 1: Defoe and Pavlyuchenko boost push for fourth
Good and bad news for England: Jermain Defoe is still scoring goals, but Peter Crouch can hardly get any game time.[LNB] It is all good news for Tottenham, though, as they cemented fourth place and moved a step closer to Champions League football. [LNB]Defoe netted his 23rd goal of the season and his 17th in the Premier League, but was upstaged by Roman Pavlyuchenko. [LNB] Double act: Spurs consolidated fourth thanks to Defoe and Pavlyuchenko[LNB]The Russian keeping Crouch out of the team scored his seventh andeighth goals in six hot appearances and, between them, Defoe andPavlyuchenko have now scored 14 of Spurs' last 17 goals. [LNB]'The way he was training and playing it looked like he wanted to goback to Russia, but since the transfer window closed he has knuckleddown and is in top form,' said Spurs manager Harry Redknapp ofPavlyuchenko.[LNB] 'If he continues like that, we've got every chance of finishing fourth.[LNB] 'Nineteen points from our last 10 games might be enough, but we'vegot some tough games, including Arsenal , Chelsea and Manchester Unitedin the space of two weeks.' [LNB] [LNB] Master marksman: Jermain Defoe hit his 23rd of the season to put Spurs 1-0 up[LNB]Blackburn did pinch a goal through Chris Samba in betweenPavlyuchenko's pair to give themselves late hope, but they were alwaysstruggling after losing goalkeeper Paul Robinson to a torn calf musclebefore the half-hour.[LNB] They were not helped by the refusal of an early penalty appeal by referee Howard Webb with the game goalless.[LNB] England's World Cup refereeing representative had a stinker. [LNB]'The main reason we lost that game was our poor defending,' admitted Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.[LNB] 'But the referee's decisions did have an effect on the game.' [LNB] Red-hot: Roman Pavlyuchenko scores his first goal[LNB]Blackburn began with a verve to belie their away record of sixpoints all season and it might have been different had Webb respondedwhen Vedran Corluka hauled down David Dunn.[LNB] 'A blatant penalty,' lamented Allardyce. [LNB]They were helped by an initially sluggish Spurs and whenPavlyuchenko scooped over the bar and smashed another good chance wide,it looked as if it might be one of those days which had seen Spurs loseat home to Stoke and Wolves. [LNB]Then came the nerve-soothing opening goal. [LNB]From Niko Kranjcar's corner, Corluka flicked on a header and Defoe stabbed home at the far post. [LNB][LNB] Bullet header: Christopher Samba fires in Blackburn's consolation[LNB]The second arrived early in the second half when the lively LucaModric played a ball forward to Defoe, who ferried it on toPavlyuchenko and his shot from the edge of the penalty area dippedunder substitute keeper Jason Brown's body.[LNB] Spurs should have had the chance of a third when Michel Salgadoclipped Gareth Bale's heels, but the well-placed Webb elected againstawarding a penalty as if wanting to even matters up. [LNB]'I never seem to have any luck with Howard Webb,' said Redknapp. [LNB]They looked unlucky again when Samba held down Michael Dawson tohead home Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner, but Spurs spared themselves anervy finish when Bale's precise, low cross found Pavlyuchenko alone atthe far post for a tap-in.[LNB] Fizzing wide: Spurs' Gareth Bale goes close[LNB]Redknapp and Allardyce were left locked in conversation after Nikola Kalinic had a late goal questionably disallowed. [LNB]'Sam said to me, "This referee is not very good, Harold old chap",' explained Redknapp. 'I said, "No Samuel, my good friend, you are spot on". Or words to that effect.' [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Lennon in World Cup fitness fight but King could still make the finalsTHE FIRING LINE: A Law unto himself - Burnley boss Brian Laws knocks Steve Bruce off the top of our list of managers for the chopTottenham 3 Blackburn 1: The drama as it happenedTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
