Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers

[THFC6061]

White Hart Lane, London N17 - The World Famous Home of the Spurs
Saturday 13th March 2010, Kick Off 12:45
Premier League, Match 29










Tottenham Hotspur: 4th in Premier League, 49 points from 84
Blackburn Rovers: 12th in Premier League, 34 points from 84

Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Andy Hall


COMMENT:

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action on Saturday 13th March at White Hart Lane where they host Blackburn Rovers after Spurs drew 0-0 at Craven Cottage against Fulham in the FA Cup Sixth Round. The winner of the replay at White Hart Lane on 24th March will meet Portsmouth in the Semi-Final at Wembley on 11th April, while Aston Villa & Chelsea play in the other Semi-Final.

Tottenham's last League action saw a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Everton which put Spurs back into fourth place in the table with goals from Roman Pavlychenko and Luka Modric in an impressive first half performance. Everton had much the better of the second half and pulled a goal back through Yakubu but Spurs defended resolutely to earn all the points.

Blackburn had a week's break from competitive matches, as they have already been knocked-out of the FA Cup and had no Premier League fixture last weekend. Their last action saw a 2-1 away defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in a match where Harry Andrews scored from the penalty spot and left Rovers in 12th place in the league table.

The current Blackburn Rovers squad features two former Spurs players: England Goalkeeper Paul Robinson was a favourite at White Hart Lane from May 2004 to July 2008 while French defender Pascal Chimbonda had two spells at White Hart Lane and went to Rovers in August 2009.

The reverse fixture earlier this season at Ewood Park saw Spurs take away all three points with an impressive 2-0 win in freezing conditions thanks to a brace of goals from Peter Crouch. A win for Spurs on Saturday would be their third "double" of the season, following those achieved over West Ham United and Wigan Athletic and would also be a Premier League club record points haul of 52 from 29 matches. Last season, Spurs won at White Hart Lane 1-0 while Blackburn won their home match 2-1. Of the 31 Premier League matches played between the clubs so far, Spurs edge Rovers by 13 wins to 11 with a further 7 matches drawn.

TEAM NEWS:

Harry Redknapp still has a number of players sidelined as he prepares for Saturday's clash against Blackburn at the Lane. David Bentley (groin), Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Jermaine Jenas (groin), Ledley King (thigh), Aaron Lennon (groin), Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are all out. However, the news is positive on David and JJ - both are closing in on a return to training - while goalkeeper Carlo is scheduled to have a plate removed from his wrist next week. "JJ is probably the closest to returning, he's starting to a bit of running," reported Harry. "But we're okay. Luka Modric played in central midfield at Fulham and did ever so well for us." Harry also revealed that Jonathan Woodgate has undergone surgery on his groin injury.

Blackburn's David Dunn (calf) scored the winner in a reserve clash with Hull and will return to the starting XI. Brett Emerton, Franco Di Santo, Junior Hoilett and Yildiray Basturk also played in midweek and could feature.

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head

• This is the 105th league meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 45 to Blackburn's 36 with 23 draws.

• There have been six red cards in the last nine Premier League meetings in this fixture, including one in each game last season.

• In December, Spurs scored with both of their shots on target, where as Blackburn had seven efforts on goal yet failed to score.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham have conceded just one goal in their last six league matches at White Hart Lane.

• Only one team (Man Utd) has managed to score more than once against Spurs at White Hart Lane in their last 31 home games.

• Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe have scored 11 out of Tottenham's last 14 goals in all competitions.

Blackburn Rovers

• Blackburn have won only one of their last 19 away matches in the league.

• Rovers have been involved in five scoreless draws this season, more than any other team.

• Only Blackburn (91) have been caught offside more times than Spurs this season (84).

LAST MATCH LINE-UPS:

Tottenham Hotspur (D 0-0 Fulham, FA Cup 6th Round A)

Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Palacios, Kranjcar, Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Defoe 81), Crouch

Substitutes: Alnwick, Dervite, Rose, Livermore, Townsend, Gudjohnsen

Blackburn Rovers (L 1-2 Liverpool A)

Robinson, Samba, Givet, Olsson (Chimbonda 51), Salgado, Pedersen, Nzonzi (Grella 60), Andrews, Hoilett (Roberts 64), Diouf, Kalinic

Substitutes: Brown, Emerton, Dunn, Di Santo

Yellow Cards: Olsson, Salgado, Nzonzi, Diouf, Kalinic

Goal: Andrews (pen) 40

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

Blackburn have not been very successful on the road this season. Manager Sam Allardyce is likely to keep them up by virtue of their home form. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez's comments about Blackburn's negative style of play following the Reds' 2-1 win over Rovers at Anfield will not bother Allardyce.
In many ways it is a back-handed compliment. They will make it hard for Tottenham, as they did at Anfield, but ultimately the home side will have too much for them.
It remains to be seen who is fit for Tottenham, as midfielders Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon are all suffering from injuries. But they are a side who are capable of creating a lot of chances, certainly enough to trouble Rovers. Like Blackburn, Tottenham are also very good at home. They may be missing a few players, and they have the distraction of the FA Cup, but their form is good and a top-four finish is in their sights.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday afternoon's match will be the 106th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers.

The two teams met in the Final of the 2002 League Cup in Cardiff with Rovers winning 2-1.

Here are the results of the previous 105 matches with Spurs' score shown first:

20-Apr-1897 Friendly - H L 1 - 2 Lanham
02-Feb-1907 F.A. Cup 2 24,963 A D 1 - 1 Watson
07-Feb-07 F.A. Cup 2 Replay 29,900 A D 1 - 1 (a.e.t) Reid
11-Feb-07 F.A. Cup 2 2nd Replay 18,000 VP W 2 - 1 Walton, Reid
01-Jan-10 Division 1 15,000 A L 0 - 2
29-Mar-10 Division 1 23,000 H W 4 - 0 Minter (3), Humphreys
17-Dec-10 Division 1 16,000 H D 2 - 2 McTavish R (2)
04-Feb-11 F.A. Cup 2 25,000 A D 0 - 0
09-Feb-11 F.A. Cup 2 Replay 26,946 H L 0 - 2
22-Apr-11 Division 1 14,000 A L 0 - 3
23-Sep-11 Division 1 37,820 H L 0 - 2
27-Jan-12 Division 1 14,000 A D 0 - 0
14-Sep-12 Division 1 25,000 A L 1 - 6 Minter
04-Jan-13 Division 1 33,000 H L 0 - 1
25-Oct-13 Division 1 46,128 H D 3 - 3 Minter, Cantrell, Middlemiss
28-Feb-14 Division 1 25,000 A D 1 - 1 Walden
05-Dec-14 Division 1 14,000 H L 0 - 4
10-Apr-15 Division 1 10,000 A L 1 - 4 Bliss
28-Aug-20 Division 1 47,345 H L 1 - 2 Bliss
04-Sep-20 Division 1 40,000 A D 1 - 1 Seed
29-Apr-22 Division 1 24,559 H W 2 - 1 Walden, Wilson
06-May-22 Division 1 25,000 A D 1 - 1 Wilson
10-Feb-23 Division 1 6,000 A L 0 - 1
14-Feb-23 Division 1 10,000 H W 2 - 0 Lindsay (2)
15-Dec-23 Division 1 18,471 H W 2 - 1 Lindsay, Elkes
22-Dec-23 Division 1 15,000 A W 1 - 0 Lindsay
15-Nov-24 Division 1 30,000 H W 5 - 0 Seed (2), Elkes (3)
21-Feb-25 F.A. Cup 3 54,521 H D 2 - 2 Lane, Dimmock
26-Feb-25 F.A. Cup 3 Replay 48,000 A L 1 - 3 Dimmock
21-Mar-25 Division 1 15,000 A D 1 - 1 Thompson
03-Oct-25 Division 1 35,645 H W 4 - 2 Thompson, Osborne (2), Dimmock
13-Feb-26 Division 1 21,584 A L 2 - 4 Osborne, Dimmock
04-Sep-26 Division 1 21,964 A L 0 - 1
22-Jan-27 Division 1 14,323 H D 1 - 1 Handley
15-Oct-27 Division 1 23,020 H D 1 - 1 Osborne
25-Feb-28 Division 1 20,890 A L 1 - 2 O'Callaghan
23-Dec-33 Division 1 28,001 H W 4 - 1 Howe, Hall GW, Evans W (2)
01-Jan-34 Division 1 19,955 A L 0 - 1
01-Jan-35 Division 1 12,083 A L 0 - 2
19-Apr-35 Division 1 31,101 H W 1 - 0 Bell
25-Dec-36 Division 2 26,756 A W 4 - 0 Meek, Morrison (2), Miller
28-Dec-36 Division 2 16,135 H W 5 - 1 McCormick, Miller (4)
18-Dec-37 Division 2 20,251 H W 3 - 1 Grice, Lyman (2)
08-Jan-38 F.A. Cup 3 35,576 H W 3 - 2 Sargent, Gibbons (2)
30-Apr-38 Division 2 7,088 A L 1 - 2 Howe
22-Oct-38 Division 2 18,136 A L 1 - 3 Lyman
25-Feb-39 Division 2 22,709 H W 4 - 3 Sargent, Morrison (2), Miller
02-Oct-48 Division 2 53,721 H W 4 - 0 Baily, Bennett (2), Jones
26-Feb-49 Division 2 20,262 A D 1 - 1 Jones
27-Aug-49 Division 2 53,016 H L 2 - 3 Walters (2)
24-Dec-49 Division 2 33,078 A W 2 - 1 Scarth, Medley
30-Aug-58 Division 1 41,830 A L 0 - 5
03-Jan-59 Division 1 39,552 H W 3 - 1 Harmer (pen), Smith R, Dunmore
05-Dec-59 Division 1 37,130 H W 2 - 1 Medwin, Bray og
20-Feb-60 F.A. Cup 6 54,745 H L 1 - 3 Jones
27-Feb-60 Division 1 29,228 A W 4 - 1 Mackay, Smith R, Allen, Jones
27-Aug-60 Division 1 26,819 A W 4 - 1 Smith R (2), Allen, Dyson
31-Dec-60 Division 1 48,742 H W 5 - 2 Blanchflower, Smith R (2), Allen (2)
20-Apr-62 Division 1 55,183 H W 4 - 1 Medwin, Smith R, Greaves, Jones
23-Apr-62 Division 1 23,301 A W 1 - 0 Greaves
15-Sep-62 Division 1 43,014 H W 4 - 1 Medwin, White, Allen, Taylor og
20-May-63 Division 1 22,867 A L 0 - 3
07-Sep-63 Division 1 20,949 A L 2 - 7 Mackay, Greaves
11-Jan-64 Division 1 43,953 H W 4 - 1 Greaves (3), Dyson
16-Apr-65 Division 1 36,497 H W 5 - 2 Greaves (2), Gilzean
19-Apr-65 Division 1 14,026 A L 1 - 3 Jones
29-Jan-66 Division 1 34,573 H W 4 - 0 Saul, Gilzean (2), Greaves (pen)
09-May-66 Division 1 7,256 A W 1 - 0 Greaves
24-Aug-77 Division 2 9,540 A D 0 - 0
31-Dec-77 Division 2 30,520 H W 4 - 0 Hoddle, Pratt, Lee (2)
01-Nov-88 League Cup 3 18,814 H D 0 - 0
09-Nov-88 League Cup 3 Replay 12,961 A W 2 - 1 (a.e.t) Thomas, Stewart
07-Nov-92 FA Prem 17,305 A W 2 - 0 Howells, Sheringham (pen)
05-May-93 FA Prem 23,097 H L 1 - 2 Anderton
30-Oct-93 FA Prem 17,462 A L 0 - 1
01-Dec-93 League Cup 4 22,295 H W 1 - 0 Campbell
12-Feb-94 FA Prem 30,236 H L 0 - 2
05-Nov-94 FA Prem 26,933 A L 0 - 2
05-Feb-95 FA Prem 28,124 H W 3 - 1 Klinsmann, Anderton, Barmby
30-Dec-95 FA Prem 30,004 A L 1 - 2 Sheringham
16-Mar-96 FA Prem 31,803 H L 2 - 3 Sheringham, Armstrong
17-Aug-96 FA Prem 26,960 A W 2 - 0 Armstrong (2)
29-Jan-97 FA Prem 22,943 H W 2 - 1 Iversen, Sinton
20-Sep-97 FA Prem 26,573 H D 0 - 0
07-Feb-98 FA Prem 30,388 A W 3 - 0 Berti, Armstrong, Fox
09-Sep-98 FA Prem 28,331 H W 2 - 1 Ferdinand, Nielsen
30-Jan-99 FA Prem 29,396 A D 1 - 1 Iversen
25-Aug-2001 FA Prem 24,992 A L 1 - 2 Ziege
01-Jan-02 FA Prem 35,131 H W 1 - 0 Richards



24-Feb-02 League Cup Final 72,500 Cardiff L 1 - 2 Ziege
06-Oct-02 FA Prem 26,203 A W 2 - 1 Keane, Redknapp
11-May-03 FA Prem 36,036 H L 0 - 4
29-Nov-03 FA Prem 22,802 A L 0 - 1
08-May-04 FA Prem 35,698 H W 1 - 0 Defoe
04-Dec-04 FA Prem 22,182 A W 1 - 0 Keane
14-May-05 FA Prem 35,797 H D 0 - 0
24-Aug-05 FA Prem 22,375 A D 0 - 0
05-Mar-06 FA Prem 36,080 H W 3 - 2 Keane (2), Mido
19-Nov-06 FA Prem 18,083 A D 1 - 1 Defoe (pen)
10-May-07 FA Prem 35,974 H D 1 - 1 Defoe
28-Oct-07 FA Prem 36,086 H L 1 - 2 Keane (pen)
05-Apr-08 FA Prem 24,592 A D 1 - 1 Berbatov
23-Nov-08 FA Prem 35,903 H W 1 - 0 Pavlyuchenko
04-Apr-09 FA Prem 21,891 A L 1 - 2 Keane (pen)
19-Dec-09 FA Prem 26,490 A W 2 - 0 Crouch (2)
13-Mar-10 FA Prem H

Full match preview, featuring match report & images from the last meeting between Spurs & Blackburn Rovers, available here:

My Football Facts & Stats | Tottenham Hotspur | Match Preview 39

[HeroesComesandGoes]

On paper, we should win this, our past performances have shown this. However, it's teams like Stoke, Wolves or Hull who may surprise us and prevent us from taking all three points. Blackburn in my opinion doesn't fall into this category and I could see us taking all 3 points. 5-0 with Pav hat-trick...

[contrast]

I've been looking forward to this thread for weeks!! Finally means my first trip to WHL for a few years is so close! Gawd I hope they perform, the day is costing me £100 already and it's only just over a week away!

2-0 to Spurs . . . . I hope.

[HeroesComesandGoes]

Contrast, enjoy the game...Rudolphs is the venue for pre-match drinks (send kevfball a private message for details). Should be a good game. Enjoy!!!

[ctw01]

I've been looking forward to this thread for weeks!! Finally means my first trip to WHL for a few years is so close! Gawd I hope they perform, the day is costing me £100 already and it's only just over a week away!

2-0 to Spurs . . . . I hope.

Contrast Im going to the lane for the first time in my life so how dyu think I feel ???????
See you there maybe ?

[jslater]

First time for me as well. Travelling down from Scotland, with my 2 brother in laws, and another mate, and was wondering what was the best pubs for pre and post match shandies. Any info appreciated. Cheers.

James

[SirBillyNick]

loads mate. Bricklayers, Bootlaces, Bill Nicholson, Rudolphs

[Roscono3]

I've been looking forward to this thread for weeks!! Finally means my first trip to WHL for a few years is so close! Gawd I hope they perform, the day is costing me £100 already and it's only just over a week away!

2-0 to Spurs . . . . I hope.

I really hope you enjoy your day out Contrast mate!

This is a MUST win game but then again ive been saying that all season.

By the way Contrast are you going to the meeting to meet a few of the lads?

[HeroesComesandGoes]

Just to round things up...TH.TV Forum members meets at Rudolphs. If you're a newbie or an oldie send a private message to "kevfball" for details on the venue...we have a "special" entrance so is important to PM him or you won't get in...

[SirBillyNick]

Kevfball63 is your man!!

[bojackson]

This will be my first time ever at WHL as well. Flying over from the states on Wednesday.

My tickets still have not showed up in the mail...

[HeroesComesandGoes]

This will be my first time ever at WHL as well. Flying over from the states on Wednesday.

My tickets still have not showed up in the mail...

Phone the ticket office when you arrive on Wednesday and tell them that they have not arrived yet.

Before you depart, make sure you take the credit card you booked it with, with you.

You'll need to pick them up from the Paxman Road ticket office (adjacent to the ground) - open two hours before kick-off....

[thfcshady27]

This is another one of these games we should win and with the run in we have it's absolutely vital we take the points from this!

[Tottenham-ManU]

Exactly we gotta hav those 3 points lets go get them !1

[contrast]

I really hope you enjoy your day out Contrast mate!

This is a MUST win game but then again ive been saying that all season.

By the way Contrast are you going to the meeting to meet a few of the lads?

I'm sure I'll enjoy the day out!!

Hoping to meet a few peeps from around here, but because I have to travel so far and the match is an earlier kick off than we thought when we got the tickets, it will be touch and go wether or not I get a chance to meet up.

Going to give Kev a message now, just in case!