chrissivad
Staff
- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham Vs Blackburn
Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 29 April
For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
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Spurs and Rovers target vital wins for very different reasons
Champions League-chasing Tottenham host second-bottom Blackburn this weekend in a Premier League clash labelled as a "must-win" for both sides.
Spurs have dropped out of the top four following a dismal run of just one victory in their last nine matches.
At the other end of the table, Blackburn are deep in the relegation mire with just three games left to save their top-flight status.
Tottenham defender Ryan Nelsen, who left Rovers for White Hart Lane in January, has stressed the importance of the match by admitting both sides need wins for their respective battles.
Harry Redknapp's team occupied third place for the bulk of the campaign but have been overhauled by bitter rivals Arsenal and Newcastle in the race for a place among Europe's elite.
Redknapp has told his players they need to win all four of their remaining matches if they want to climb back into the top four - starting with the visit of Blackburn on Sunday.
Continental action seems a distant memory for Rovers, who are three points away from safety with time running out.
It has been a tempestuous season for the Lancashire club with frustrated fans voicing their anger at owners Venky's and manager Steve Kean throughout.
Kean's men seemed to have turned the corner with two straight wins last month before they plummeted back into the drop zone with a horror run of five defeats.
Victory against Norwich last weekend was a vital lifeline and they could lift themselves out of trouble with only their third away success of the season.
But Spurs, who have lost just three home games this term, know another White Hart Lane triumph may reduce their three-point deficit on Newcastle.
Team news
Younes Kaboul and Emmanuel Adebayor have recovered from their respective knee and hamstring injuries and will be available.
Ledley King is a doubt with his chronic knee injury, but Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been ruled out for the season after dislocating his shoulder against QPR.
Niko Kranjcar (knee), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Michael Dawson (ankle) are out.
Blackburn manager Kean has virtually a full squad, with Montenegro midfielder Simon Vukcevic recovering from a virus.
Jason Lowe has shaken off a knee problem so only Grant Hanley, who has an ankle ligament injury, is missing.
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Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul hopes to return after missing the last two games with a knee injury.
Benoit Assou‑Ekotto is unlikely to play again this season due to a shoulder injury, but Emmanuel Adebayor should come back into the side.
Blackburn defender Grant Hanley will miss the rest of the season with an ankle ligament injury.
Aside from that, Steve Kean has a fully-fit squad to choose from as Simon Vukcevic has recovered from a virus.
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Definitely Maybe! Though they're Man City fans, the Oasis boys might have titled an album in dedication of Tottenham's current campaign.
When they visited Arsenal on 26 February they were seven points ahead of the Gunners. A Champions League place looked certain. Then the rot set in. Just six points have been gathered from a possible 27 since then and only Wolves have picked up fewer.
It would be a great shame if they miss out. But the facts are stark. By the time they kick off they could be nine points behind Arsenal. Maybe they could still qualify in fourth. But they're depending on Newcastle and Chelsea to implode - just as they have themselves.
The bounce in their step has gone. The fine grace of their autumn movement has been replaced by a stumbling gait. Gareth Bale and Luka Modric look wearied. Where goals came fluently, they've now dried up. Just eight have been scored in this nine-game slump.
The Harry Redknapp/England speculation has perhaps eroded the club's united aim. It certainly hasn't helped. But whatever the reasons, Spurs can't dwell on them. They must win this game at all costs and then it'll be game on again, especially with Chelsea still to meet Newcastle.
They're looking for a sixth win in a row over a Blackburn side whose escape hopes briefly flickered last month only to be seemingly snuffed out in their run of five defeats in a row.
If Yakubu can score, if Hoillett's pace can trouble a patched up Spurs defence, if Paul Robinson can keep a fourth clean sheet of the season, if they can get a point and then beat Wigan at home, then Blackburn might survive.
But they've conceded 41 away goals this season. Only seven clubs in the entire Football League have shipped more on their travels. They need a miracle.
Surely Tottenham will rediscover their winning ways. Otherwise another Oasis sad song lyric might haunt them for a long, long time: "We're throwing it all away at the end of the day".
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