Premier League - Spurs climb out of drop zone

Eurosport - Mon, 24 Nov 08:42:00 2008

Tottenham clambered out of the Premier League relegation zone after an early Roman Pavlyuchenko strike sealed a 1-0 win against Blackburn at White Hart Lane.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League - Spurs players celebrate after Roman Pavlyuchenko's winner against Blackburn - 0

Aaron Lennon was the undoubted man of the match after running Blackburn, and in particular Martin Olsson, ragged all afternoon.

The diminutive winger caught Olsson napping before laying the ball off for Pavlyuchenko's ninth-minute winner, which Blackburn never looked like cancelling out.

Harry Redknapp caused much furore by deploying the strike partnership of Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent - a combination which former coach Gus Poyet insisted could not function effectively - and the pair repaid his faith in abundance.

Lennon compounded Paul Ince's side's woes as he repeatedly skipped past Olsson before the full-back was finally dismissed by referee Howard Webb for two bookable offences.

David Bentley also got in on the act from the left, curling a delightful delivery on to the head of the Russian striker, whose attempt struck Paul Robinson's near post.

Much of the pre-match scrutiny was on Spurs' much-maligned keeper Heurelho Gomes. His afternoon was only spoiled through having to endure ironic cheers from the home fans every time he touched the ball.

However that did not happen often, as Blackburn failed to create clear-cut chances to test the Brazilian shot-stopper: Benni McCarthy stabbing a shot narrowly over the bar in the first half and Roque Santa Cruz missing in similar fashion in the second were isolated incidents.

Jermaine Jenas was industrious in the Spurs midfield, his powerful running complementing the pace and guile of Lennon and the precise passing of Bentley.

Ince, however, will have been dismayed at his side's lack of creativity and conviction.

While Redknapp's side have completed their escape from the bottom three, Blackburn drop to 19th spot and are now without a win in their last six games.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 8 - 27 of 47

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HARRY IS NOT A MESSIAH!!!SPURS WILL BE RELEGATED,,,,

    From Olugbayi, on Sun 23 Nov 11:51PM

  2. I'm a Gooner and even I know Spurs are too good to­ be relegated.

    From topminge, on Sun 23 Nov 11:11PM

  3. easy win, it should have been a lot more and we did not­ really play well. all the haters will have to think up­ some other @#$% now as we are not going down. pompey­ fans need to shut up whinging about arry as well. hes a­ londoner and should never have been down in that slumb­ anyway.

    From bazspur4, on Sun 23 Nov 10:50PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sorry guys but i still can't help feeling there was­ a conspiracy against Ramos.
    I like Spurs and their fans­ but i do believe a full inquiry needs to be carried out­ here as the Spurs players were obviously not trying­ their best under Ramos; if a jockey lays down, he is­ banned. I believe if Spurs were to be found guilty of­ laying down then they should be demoted to League-2 . .­ . and don't forget guys, i like Spurs.

    From cameron w, on Sun 23 Nov 10:49PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    just a quick message for Tottenham fans seriously why­ do you guys think your a big club.....winning the­ Carling Cup isn't worth getting aroused­ about.....you guys @#$% about Arsenal but then people­ do when there rivals are bigger and better....and no im­ not a Yid or a Gooner.....Redknapp will leave you when­ he gets bored as thats all he ever seems to do at clubs­ !!!!!

    From paul050478, on Sun 23 Nov 10:28PM

  6. roxanne , I am happy for you too. Gimme a kiss!

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 23 Nov 9:38PM

  7. so happy to keep a clean sheet and win again, more­ clean sheets and a +goal difference will put us up­ there in contention for a euro position, stop giving­ gomes anything but support we need the clean sheets he­ may yet prove himself
    good to see the gooners are quiet­ for a change, not many points between us now, how many­ in 3 more games i wonder?

    From Roxy, on Sun 23 Nov 9:23PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    another case of lucky yids.....they have an opponent­ sent off (harshly)as against man city,and go on to­ flatter them selves with an undeserved win......ride­ your luck while you can, your lucky dice have just fell­ down the drain.............

    From barry, on Sun 23 Nov 9:22PM

  9. Were are all The Gooner Supporters.They are usually­ here spitting venom towards us Spurs supporters.What up­ lads,run out of poison or is it steam.Good lad that­ Arse Winger.CMON ARRY,CMON U SPURS.

    From eifion.hughes, on Sun 23 Nov 8:59PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    No I don't ware685 statistically Spurs had the­ worst ever points
    average in the early part of the­ season. Making them the worst
    ever team in the­ premiership not my words but on hear!! As early
    doors­ put it you can't argue with the facts.. And out of­ interest why
    do all Spurs fans think there better than­ the other team in north
    London results speak? And­ before you all start I don't live down
    south..

    From colin, on Sun 23 Nov 7:50PM

  11. Good job Harry. I know you can make Spurs again.

    From KWASI, on Sun 23 Nov 7:39PM

  12. spurs winning and the other lot having all there probs­ and getting hammered by City makes for an enjoyable­ weekend, thanks Harry

    From lordbazza, on Sun 23 Nov 7:01PM

  13. Spurs back on track - we don't deserve to be in the­ bottom half of the league

    From erica16, on Sun 23 Nov 6:46PM

  14. the best part of todays result was the clean sheet­ hopefully it will lift gomes confidence and kick start­ the climb up the league

    From SANDRA, on Sun 23 Nov 6:42PM

  15. worst team in prem history colin?? you dont exaggerate­ much then ?

    From ware685, on Sun 23 Nov 6:34PM

  16. Spurs back on track - we don't deserve to be in the­ bottom half of the league

    From erica16, on Sun 23 Nov 6:30PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Spurs go marching on, Is that the
    same Spurs that are­ the worst ever
    team in premiership history?­ Don't
    worry I'm not an Arsenal fan but
    every­ time I meet a Spurs fan they
    tell what a great team­ Spurs are
    great at what??

    From colin, on Sun 23 Nov 6:16PM

  18. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Sun 23 Nov 5:28PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    helllllllllloooooooooo

    From joe_pusey, on Sun 23 Nov 5:27PM

  20. i think harry houdinie is working his magic abit like­ at pompey who won da fa cup watch were win carling cup­ 4 sure

    From gillam85, on Sun 23 Nov 5:23PM
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