FA BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
WEDNESDAY 24TH AUGUST, 2005
BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 (0)
Attendance: - 22,375
Referee: - Dermot Gallagher
Teams:-
Blackburn (4-1-4-1):- Friedel; Neill, Todd (Capt.) (sub Mokena, 81), Nelsen, Matteo; Tugay; Emerton, Savage, Reid, Pedersen; Kuqi (sub Johnson, 86)
Subs not used: - Enckleman; Gresko; Jansen
Booked: - Neill, Savage
Sent off (2nd Yellow – 75):- Neill
Spurs (4-4-2):- Robinson; Stalteri, Dawson, Gardner, Edman; Tainio, Brown, Mendes (sub Defoe, 80), Reid; Keane (Capt.), Mido (sub Davids, 53)
Subs not used: - Cerny; Naybet; Carrick
Booked: - Dawson, Davids
There were a number of disappointments for the army of Spurs fans, who travelled to Ewood Park last night, many of whom were gathered in surely one of the best “away” pubs in the country – “The Fearnhurst Arms”, before the game. Firstly (and Spurs have a massive Northern section of supporters) their pilgrimage to see Edgar Davids was to be in vain – at least until the second half; secondly Martin Jol clearly had a lot of Chelsea in his eye, as he rotated and put Carrick, Davids and Defoe on the bench, and thirdly they had to put up with a pretty dire goal-less game, where Spurs best chance came from a first half Keane shot, that was not valid anyway, as Andy Reid had allowed the ball over the line before crossing it.
The fact that Spurs encountered old-fashioned north-western thuggery of the highest order came as no surprise of course, demonstrated by Andy Todd’s head-butt behind Dermot Gallagher’s back upon Andy Reid, (who probably did make a bit of a meal of things) and Lucas Neill’s flying two-footed tackle upon Davids, who did enter as substitute on 53 minutes. Spurs’ nemesis Robbie Savage (who did get booked as usual) was almost a pussycat by comparison.
Maybe those who did represent Spurs also had their thoughts directed too much towards Saturday’s encounter with Chelsea, as there was little in their football to inspire the thousands of Spurs fans who deserved a much better show. It was a surprise to see Michael Brown feature in the midfield, after he had managed just a 45 minute stroll in the Reserves 10 days ago. What’s more he made the 90 minutes, rather than Mendes who made way for Jermain Defoe after the home team had gone down to 10 men.
I understand the arguments put forward by many fans, who feel that we should have gone all out to beat Blackburn, rather than concentrate on putting out our strongest 11 against Chelsea, but maybe our disappointment should be tempered by the fact that we managed a third consecutive clean sheet, remain unbeaten in our first three games, and that we are second to Chelsea at this very early stage.
It’s fair to say that Blackburn had most of the chances on goal, but Robinson was never called to stretch and make a save, as an unchanged back four kept the attack at bay. Stalteri had a couple of worrying moments, against Pedersen, but otherwise we looked quite solid, first proven when Anthony Gardner blocked Emerton’s shot after 4 minutes. That Robbie Keane effort came after 9 minutes, but that was about the last direct attempt on goal from Spurs. Stalteri was penalised after 13 minutes, and Pedersen’s free kick went wide. Pedersen (playing on the left in a 4-1-4-1 formation) headed back to Steve Reid after 18 minutes, but Reid also fired wide.
Michael Dawson was carded for a foul on Savage who took the free kick, headed clear by Mido. I did record a 25 yard effort by Andy Reid after 25 minutes, which was easily held by Brad Friedel. Lone striker Shefki Kuqi (signed from Ipswich and who played against us for Stockport in February 2001) had the best chance as Gardner held up his arm to appeal for offside, gave up on the chase and watched the flag stay down, and thankfully Kuqi’s effort go wide. A Savage free kick from the left after 37 minutes floated agonisingly across the Spurs goalmouth, without making contact with a Rovers’ head.
Neill’s yellow card before the break was for a cynical foul on Robbie Keane, as Mendes had sent Robbie away.
After the break, and after Davids' arrival, Kuqi had another reflex chance, when Pedersen’s cross was first chested by the striker, but then Gardner closed him down well to prevent a decent shot. The game became what was euphemistically labelled by Spurs (((Mobile))) as “feisty”, where Savage, Davids and then Neill were carded for their challenges. Neill’s was on Davids, and even Talk Sport’s Adrian Durham (not the best fan of Spurs) described it as a heinous tackle that could have ended Davids’ season. Durham’s theory was that Martin Jol was wholly justified in keeping his best players away from Blackburn’s crew, thus preventing injury. As it is, I understand that Teemu Tainio is very doubtful for Saturday, and that may have been down to Savage, although Teemu also completed the 90 minutes.
Michael Brown tried to lay on a ball for Defoe in the last ten minutes, as Brown got to the bye-line, but his low cross was blocked. Despite all the control Spurs had after Neill had gone, that was all they could muster in the way of chances.
Spurs previous best run of clean sheets was in August and September last year, when they managed 4, one of which was against Chelsea. We must hope for a repeat of both records!
· Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
· Read the preview for this game.
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