Preview: Blackburn Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur

[THFC6061]

Ewood Park, Blackburn BB2, Lancashire (Capacity 31,363)
Saturday 19th December 2009, Kick Off 15:00
Premier League, Match 18

Blackburn Rovers: 12th in Premier League, 19 points from 51
Tottenham Hotspur: 5th in Premier League, 30 points from 51







Referee:
Assistant referees:
Fourth official:

COMMENT:


Blackburn Rovers host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 19th December looking for their first win in seven matches, not counting their penalty shoot-out victory after a 3-3 drawn game against Chelsea in the Football League (Carling) Cup Quarter Final. Despite their indifferent Premier League form, Rovers have remained fairly steady in 12th place for several weeks now but goals have been hard to come by this season for the Lancashire side and they've only averaged one for every League game played so far. Last time out, Rovers went down away to Birmingham 2-1 with New Zealander Ryan Nelsen scoring.

Spurs come into the game fresh from a very impressive 3-0 home win over Manchester City which boosted the club's confidence after several disappointing results which has seen the North London club drop from third to fifth in the table. Niko Kranjcar scored twice against City with the third coming from man on fire Jermain Defoe, who now has 14 goals to his credit this season, 13 of which came in the Premier League. Defoe's strike partner for the City game was Peter Crouch, who contributed two assists.

Honours between Blackburn & Spurs are almost even during the Premier League Era with Rovers having won 11 to Spurs 12 matches with 7 matches drawn. Last season, Spurs beat Rovers 1-0 at White Hart Lane with a Roman Pavlyuchenko goal while Rovers won at Ewood Park 2-1 with goals from McCarthy and Ooijer while Robbie Keane scored for Spurs. In the only major domestic Cup Final between the two clubs, Rovers beat Spurs 2-1 in the 2002 League Cup Final at Wembley.

The history of the two clubs goes back to the time Blackburn Rovers won the first of three consecutive FA Cups in season 1883-84 and the youngsters who played for Tottenham Hotspur at the time cancelled their match that day to watch the Final. They were so impressed with Rovers that they adopted their kit of blue and white halved shirts as their own (a special edition replica of this shirt was worn to celebrate Tottenham's 125th Anniversary).

TEAM NEWS:

Blackburn have three players currently receiving treatment - Vincenzo Grella for a thigh muscle strain, Brett Emerton for a groin strain and David Dunn for a calf muscle strain. There's a good chance all three will be fit to face Spurs on Saturday.

Blackburn's team will probably feature two former Tottenham players - goalkeeper Paul Robinson and defender Pascal Chimbonda, while Tottenham's squad includes former Blackburn winger David Bentley.

Luka Modric was an unused substitute against Manchester City but Giovani Dos Santos didn't feature. Benoit Assou-Ekotto took a late knock and was replaced by Gareth Bale deep into added time. Jermaine Jenas recovered from his recent sickness and was a used substitute. Tottenham's injury list includes Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, who are both still recovering from their respective setbacks while goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is a long term absentee after his road accident.

MATCH FACTS:

To follow later.

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS:

Tottenham Hotspur (W 3-0 Manchester City, H):

Gomes, Bassong, Dawson, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto (Bale 90+5), Huddlestone, Lennon, Palacios, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe (Jenas 90+2)

Substitutes: Alnwick, Hutton, Modric, Pavlyuchenko, Keane

Goals: Kranjcar 37, 90+3, Defoe 54

Yellow cards: Palacios, Kranjcar

Blackburn Rovers (L 1-2 Birmingham City, A):

Robinson, Samba, Givet, Nelsen, Chimbonda, Emerton (Andrews 22), Pedersen, Nzonzi, Roberts (McCarthy 71), Diouf (Hoilett 53), Kalinic

Substitutes: Brown, Jacobsen, Salgado, Di Santo

Goals: Nelsen 69

Yellow cards: Nelsen, Nzonzi

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

You just don't know with Spurs away from home. They take the lead at places but then suddenly collapse and the north west, especially, is not a good place for them to go.

Blackburn will impose a really physical examination on them and their home form has generally been good, but I expect Spurs will leave with a draw.

Verdict: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday's match will be the 105th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers.
The clubs met in the 2002 Football League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, which Rovers won 2-1.

Full Match Preview available here:
My Football Facts & Stats | Tottenham Hotspur | Match Preview 22


Comrehensive statistics & history of Tottenham Hotspur 1882-2009 available here:
My Football Facts & Stats | Tottenham Hotspur FC

[Luke0405]

Great detailed thread.

[THFC6061]

Thanks!

Glad you found it of interest.

[THFC6061]

Head-to-head

• This is the 104th meeting between these sides. Tottenham have won 44 to Blackburn's 36.

• There have been six red cards in the last eight Premier League meetings between Blackburn and Spurs, including one in each game last season.

Blackburn Rovers

• Blackburn are without a league win in five outings. But they are unbeaten in their last seven at Ewood Park, since an opening-day defeat to Manchester City.

• Sam Allardyce's side have managed just one goal in their last five Premier League matches.

• This is Rovers' 600th Premier League game, and their 300th at Ewood Park. They have won 150 of those.

• Jason Roberts has scored 149 goals in his club career.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham have managed just two clean sheets in 27 Premier League games away from home over the last season-and-a-half.

• Harry Redknapp's side have 11 points more than at the same stage last season.

• Both Spurs' games in the North West this season have ended in draws.

• Aaron Lennon has eight assists in the league this season. Only Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas has more with 10.

[ImTottenhamTillIDie]

Thanks for all the info. 'On Paper' we look like the favourites! Although.. nightmares from Stoke and Wolves still haunt..

[THFC6061]

OFFICIAL SPURS TEAM NEWS:

Harry Redknapp reports that Luka Modric is out of Saturday's trip to Blackburn.

The midfielder returned to action with a 30-minute stint off the bench against Wolves last weekend after three months out with a fractured fibula.

He remained on the bench for Wednesday's win against City and Harry said this morning that he won't be travelling to Ewood Park.

"Luka's got a bit of a ankle problem and he won't be fit for Blackburn," said Harry. David Bentley is also a doubt with a calf strain. "He's also struggling," added Harry. "To be honest, he's very, very doubtful."

Ledley King returned to training on Friday after his recent knee problem but Harry confirmed that he's not in contention to face Blackburn.

However, he is expected to return to action over the Christmas period. Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (pelvis, wrist) remain sidelined.

[Audere est Facere]

thanks for the infos! its nice to read them!