Blackburn v Spurs preview

Rovers tackle Spurs at Ewood Park

By James Pearson   Last updated: 4th April 2008

Hughes Mark West Ham v Blackburn

Hughes: Targetting Europe

PREDICTIONS:


Skysports.com predicts:
Blackburn 2 Spurs 2


SKY BET odds:
Blackburn 5/4 Draw 9/4 Spurs 7/4


One to Watch:
David Bentley


Bet on the match

Related links

Teams

Also see

Juande Ramos will be hoping for a response from his Spurs side against Blackburn following last Sunday's thumping by Newcastle.

Spurs' season is in danger of tailing off following their Carling Cup success, although Blackburn have their own agenda with European football the primary target.

Mark Hughes' side trail fifth-placed Everton by seven points and no one will dare tell the Welsh tactician that catching The Toffees is an impossible task.

Rovers' form is mixed having won only one of their last four Premier League matches, a run matched by their North London visitors.

Blackburn's form against Spurs is not the best either with their late 2-1 success at White Hart Lane their first win over Ramos' side in eight meetings.

Rovers return

Hughes is boosted by the return of defenders Brett Emerton and Christopher Samba for the Ewood Park clash.

Australia international Emerton has been hampered by a groin strain of late while Samba missed Rovers' goalless draw at Reading last week due to the red card he picked up against Wigan.

Benni McCarthy will be hoping to get the nod to play alongside Roque Santa Cruz after Hughes opted to give Jason Roberts a rare start at The Madejski.

Experienced Swiss midfielder Johann Vogel will make his Premier League debut if he appears against the North Londoners after failing to feature at Reading.

Jenas back

Ramos welcomes back England international Jermaine Jenas to his midfield following illness.

The former Newcastle United man has missed the club's last two league games after featuring in their 4-4 home draw with Chelsea.

With captain Ledley King out for the remainder of the season, Younes Kaboul's return from a dead leg could not have been timed better.

Kaboul could well replace either Jonathan Woodgate or Michael Dawson at the heart of Spurs' defence following their 4-1 mauling by Newcastle last Sunday.

Ramos is unlikely to stick with three up front as he did against Newcastle, so Darren Bent could drop to the bench. Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are long-term injuries.