Peter Crouch scored twice to give Tottenham a 2-0 victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Striker scores twice to ruin Allardyce anniversary
Peter Crouch scored twice to give Tottenham a 2-0 victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park.
After a battling first 45 minutes between the two sides, it was Spurs who went ahead just before the break when Niko Kranjcar's cross was headed home by the striker.
Crouch did get the ball over the line again in the 80th minute but the linesman had already flagged for offside and he was forced to wait a few more minutes to add his second.
Blackburn were denied by Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes as they tried to equalise and it was Crouch's 83rd minute strike that ruined Sam Allardyce's one-year anniversary at Ewood Park.
Bright start
Blackburn made a bright start, however, and Franco Di Santo had a half-chance in the ninth minute after Vince Grella and Benni McCarthy had linked up but he failed to get a decent enough touch.
Blackburn almost took the lead five minutes later when a McCarthy free-kick took a deflection off Aaron Lennon and deceived Gomes, only to come back off the bar.
Tottenham hit back and Jermain Defoe should have added to his 14-goal tally after being released by Kranjcar in the 23rd minute but dragged his shot wide of the post.
Blackburn carved out a good chance in the 30th minute after McCarthy delivered the ball to Di Santo, who took it on his chest and rattled in a shot that Gomes took at the second attempt.
Junior Hoilett was causing Vedran Corluka problems with his pace on the right flank and the Croatian was booked in the 35th minute after flooring his opponent.
McCarthy took the free-kick and Steven Nzonzi got a touch only to find the wrong side of the post with his flick.
McCarthy was looking bright and industrious and saw a dipping shot go over the top five minutes later.
Tottenham made the breakthrough in stoppage time after Kranjcar chased a ball which looked to be going out of play but he managed to get in a cross and Crouch headed home off the underside of the bar.
Better spell
Tottenham launched a swift counter in the 51st minute and Lennon cut into the area and tried to pick out Defoe. However the striker was unable to get a decent touch and the move broke down.
Back came Blackburn and they nearly equalised two minutes later only for McCarthy's shot to hit the post and Sebastien Bassong cleared the ball to safety.
This was a better spell by the home side after the shock of finding themselves chasing the game.
Blackburn kept up the pressure and Hoilett skipped into the area but saw his effort blocked.
Then Nzonzi tested Gomes with a shot and even though it carried little power the goalkeeper looked uncomfortable.
Crouch found the net again in the 79th minute following a cross from Lennon only to be adjudged offside.
Crouch was not to be denied and got his second goal of the game and his eighth of the season three minutes later with a cool finish after substitute Jermaine Jenas had created the opening.
Blackburn almost pulled a goal back a minute later but Gomes clawed McCarthy's effort around the post and the fans showed their frustration at the end.
| Blackburn Rovers |
Team Statistics |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 5 |
Corners |
0 |
| 9 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 68 |
Passing Success |
75 |
| 19 |
Tackles |
32 |
| 78.9 |
Tackles Success |
87.5 |
| 43.6 |
Possession |
56.4 |
| 58.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
41.7 |
|
