Tottenham Hotspur 3 Blackburn Rovers 1: match report

Roman Pavlyuchenko maintained his impressive goalscoring record, and moved Tottenham Hotspur a step closer to securing a place in next season's Champions League, with two goals in an easy victory. Harry Redknapp claimed on Friday that Spurs needed 19 points - six wins and a draw - to finish in the coveted fourth place and they edged closer to that target with an ultimately easy lunchtime win.  Related ArticlesPremier League tableTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesSport on televisionJermain Defoe gave Spurs the lead before Pavlyuchenko scored goals either side of a response from Christopher Samba, taking his recent tally to seven goals in six games. Spurs dominated the first half, benefiting from the injury to their former goalkeeper, Paul Robinson. But it took until the first minute of added time before Spurs could take advantage, with Defoe claiming his 23rd goal of the season. Earlier, Pavlyuchenko had squandered three good chances, though Blackburn Rovers also had a legitimate appeal for a penalty rejected before Robinson limped off gingerly in the 38th minute. Before then, Pavlyuchenko was offered a chance from Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who crossed from the left, but the Russian jabbed the ball into the turf and it bounced over Robinson's goal. In the 20th minute, Vedran Corluka appeared to bundle the returning David Dunn off the ball, but referee Howard Web turned down penalty claims. Spurs responded when Bale, outstanding on the left, set-up Pavlyuchenko but the Russian sent the attempt wide. Bale, himself, was then unlucky after he outstripped Michel Salgado only to role the ball wide. Robinson had been troubled for a while, after kicking a clearance, and was forced off in the 25th minute, hopping on his right leg. Jason Brown, his replacement, made two saves in quick succession, from his own defender, Gael Givet, and Defoe. But in added time, Niko Kranjcar's corner was headed on by Corluka and Defoe bundled the ball beyond Brown. And, in the 10th minute of the second half, Spurs increased their lead. Luka Modric's ball found Defoe, who fed Pavlyuchenko and Brown allowed the striker's shot to slip under his body. Blackburn replaced Brett Emerton with Keith Andrews but still Spurs pressed, with Modric close to a third. In the 68th minute, Spurs thought they had won a penalty when Bale fell under a challenge from Salgado. But Webb, England's World Cup referee, failed to award the kick or book Bale. Webb angered Spurs again soon afterwards when Morten Gamst Pedersen forced Bale down, but again Blackburn survived. And Blackburn sent the alarm bells ringing when, in the 80th minute, they replied when, from Pedersen's corner, Samba rose high above Michael Dawson to head beyond Heurelho Gomes. Spurs, however, confirmed the win in the 88th minute when Pavlyuchenko, having miss-hit the original chance, was allowed a second attempt, from Bale's high cross. Blackburn had the ball in the net in the final minute but Nikola Kalinic was harshly adjudged to have pushed Dawson before scoring.

Source: Telegraph