Blackburn Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[chrissivad]

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Blackburn v Tottenham

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Ewood Park Date: Saturday, 19 December 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Coverage: Full commentary BBC London 94.9 fm & online, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Click Here

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Rovers chase first win in five games, Spurs aiming to double up

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Blackburn take on Tottenham at Ewood Park on Saturday in a clash of sides needing the points for their battles at opposite ends of the table.
Rovers currently sit in 12th in the top flight, five points off the drop zone, as Sam Allardyce attempts to keep his side in the Premier League for another season.
Allardyce's men lost their run of three consecutive goalless league stalemates when going down 2-1 at in-form Birmingham on Tuesday, and have now failed to win in five league attempts.
But at least Rovers scored against the Blues and Allardyce will be demanding improvements at both ends of the pitch.
Spurs go into the game on a high after pulling off an excellent 3-0 home victory over Manchester City on Wednesday to sit in fifth place, two points off the all-important UEFA Champions League berths.
The victory was a perfect response to Spurs' shock home 1-0 reverse to Wolves and was their first win in four league attempts.
Harry Redknapp will be aiming to double up here, although his side have not won away in three attempts in the league since their 2-1 victory at Portsmouth back on 17th October

Team news

Brett Emerton is out for Rovers after the Australia international picked up a groin injury in the midweek reverse to Birmingham, forcing him to be replaced midway through the first period.
But Vince Grella should return after missing the Birmingham game through illness.
Key player David Dunn will be assessed on Friday after not featuring in Rovers' last three league matches because of a calf strain suffered against Stoke.
Boss Allardyce told the club's official website: "We aren't too bad for injuries at the moment, we will have Vince back on Saturday, and we hope Dunn will be back too, we'll see how he is."
Spurs boss Redknapp may be tempted to keep the same starting line-up after the excellent victory over City.
Midfielder Jermaine Jenas came on as a late sub in that win after suffering food poisoning earlier in the week and may again have to settle for the bench.
Fellow midfielder Luka Modric has picked up an ankle injury and will not feature.
Winger David Bentley has a calf strain and is doubtful for the trip back to his former club.
Ledley King (knee) is back in training but will not play, nor will fellow centre-back Jonathan Woodgate (groin).




PREDICTIONS

Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
SKY BET odds: Blackburn 11/5, Draw 9/4, Spurs 5/4
One to Watch: Jermain Defoe
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BBC Preview

Blackburn will be without Brett Emerton after the midfielder lasted only 23 minutes of the midweek defeat at Birmingham.

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Top scorer David Dunn remains doubtful with a calf injury, but Vince Grella returns from a thigh problem.
Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric has picked up an ankle injury and will not play.
David Bentley has a calf strain and is not expected to make the trip to his former club.


Blackburn
Suspended: none
Doubtful: Dunn (calf)
Injured: Emerton (groin)

Tottenham
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Bentley (calf)
Injured: Cudicini (wrist), King (knee), Modric (ankle), Woodgate (groin)

MATCH PREVIEW


Tottenham's ambition to be taken seriously as genuine top four contenders was given a major boost this week with an emphatic victory over Champions League rivals Manchester City and they will be desperate to strengthen their case with a first win at Ewood Park since 2004.

Spurs' attempts to secure a top four finish had been undermined by a recent run of only two points from their previous three games and a habit of losing concentration at vital moments.
But Wednesday's hugely impressive display proved that Harry Redknapp's side possess not only the attacking prowess that has characterised their play this season, but the defensive discipline to go with it.
Saturday's opponents are without a win in five Premier League outings, with their only goal in those games coming in their 2-1 midweek defeat at the hands of Birmingham City.
Sam Allardyce's side are only three points above the drop zone and need to start picking up wins quickly to avoid being dragged into the relegation dogfight.

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MATCH FACTS
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
• 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
• 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.




LEADING GOALSCORERS

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Blackburn
Dunn: 6 goals (5 league); Roberts: 3 goals (3 league); McCarthy: 3 goals (0 league)

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Tottenham
Defoe: 14 goals (13 league); Keane: 8 goals (6 league)




Referee: Peter Walton
Assistant referees: Trevor Massey & Bob Pollock
Fourth official: Andy Woolmer




MOST RECENT MEETING

Blackburn 2-1 Tottenham (4 April 2009)
Blackburn scorers: McCarthy 82, Ooijer 89
Tottenham scorer: Keane 30 (pen)





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Blackburn Vs Tottenham Halftime/Fulltime

 

[chrissivad]

sorry its a bit later than normal....

but Coys!

 

[fazza]

Vital we get all 3 points this afternoon to stay in contention with the top 4, will make christmas all the more sweeter too.

COYS!!!

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Coys!!!!!!!!

 

[alfiespurs]

Greetings to all my fellow faithful .. I always hate playing the thugs .. A BIG COYS .. come on Defoe and Peter .. need the THREE POINTS .. please

 

[Kendall]

I'm still furious over last year.

 

[3Dnata]

If we don't get an early goal this will be a horrible game to watch.
Hopefully we'll win and get revenge on Spit Diouf for his silly omments.
This is a chance to see if we've got plans to play against anti-football teams.

 

[nicdic]

Interesting stats up there. Blackburn only got one goal in their last five games, coming against Birmingham, yet have aslo kept three clean sheets in that time. Relatively good defensively, yet poor going forward, especially without David Dunn. Lennon only second to Fabregas this season for assists with eight. Great to see the little man improve on his final ball, fullbacks must hate lining up against him at the moment, he's been in great form.

Think we might nick this one today. Would be a great result after the three points against City. We usually always concede, but I can see us shutting them out today, the back five look settled and confident at the moment, and Blackburn are poor going forwards. 2-0 Spurs.

COYS!

 

[kaz Hirai]

traditional this is the kind of game were the best we could hope for us a draw, another good marker for us today.

plus villa are the new flavour of the week so less pressure maybe

 

[mil1lion]

We should outplay them like we did Villa and Everton. So its a case of whether we kill them off this time. The 3 goals against City will have built confidence. I think we'll score a couple and keep it tight at the back. 0-2 COYS!

 

[fazza]

traditional this is the kind of game were the best we could hope for us a draw, another good marker for us today.

plus villa are the new flavour of the week so less pressure maybe

Yep, if we really do want top 4 this is the sort of game we must be winning, like the Wolves game last weekend, oops

 

[BringBack_leGin]

We've performed well away from home this season and as we know, should have more points on the board. Villa, Everton and Bolton were all good performances which we failed to get what we deserved. Crouches height will be important today for set pieces, while the amount of long balls and crosses these guys put in will require a lot of blood and thunder in the air from Dawson. We should be confident after Wednesday so I hope we come out strong and hit them hard early on. If we play to our potential Blackburn should be on the back foot for most of the time.

 

[karennina]

I'm still furious over last year.

Having been forced to remember it by reading the BBC last meeting info, so am I. If Blackburn actually attempt to win the game, we really have no excuse not to push Allardyce back into his box a little by winning. If the players can motivate themselves, that is...

 

[ShelfSide18]

3-1 to Spurs.

Crouch, Palacios, Bassong.

 

[sidford]

i want revenge against samba so hopefully we'll stuff them! prick always seems to score against us and plays well against us as well

 

[Bulletspur]

i want revenge against samba so hopefully we'll stuff them! prick always seems to score against us and plays well against us as well

No need for that. At least he is doing what he is paid to do, an example some of our players need to take note of.

 

[Leachie]

4 points from this game and the Fulham game will be a great return. This one is the most likely out of the 2 to be a draw I reckon.

 

[sidford]

No need for that. At least he is doing what he is paid to do, an example some of our players need to take note of.

course theres a need for that, he has scored 2 winners against us IIRC and one of those was in the last league game ive gone to so to me hes a prick because he seems to raise his game against us

 

[Bulletspur]

course theres a need for that, he has scored 2 winners against us IIRC and one of those was in the last league game ive gone to so to me hes a prick because he seems to raise his game against us

Would you have him in our squad?

 

[Bulletspur]

4 points from this game and the Fulham game will be a great return. This one is the most likely out of the 2 to be a draw I reckon.

I agree with the 4 pointsbut Fulham are no mugs, so I would think three points here would be easier to achieve.