Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur

Blackburn Rovers

Walker, Edinburgh, Howells, Mabbutt, Fox, Carr, Ginola, Domingues, Campbell, Clemence, Mahorn (Vega, 82).

Attendance
26,573

Referee
G P Barber

Flowers, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Sutton, Dahlin (Croft, 80), Wilcox (McKinlay, 84), Bohinen, Flitcroft, Valery, Henchoz.

Subs not used: Baardsen, Calderwood, Nielsen, Sinton.

Subs not used: Fettis, T. Pedersen, P. Pedersen.

Booked:

Booked: Flitcroft, Valery, Sherwood.
Sentoff: Valery 79.

    Injury-hit Tottenham, who were jeered off after only just beating second division Carlisle in midweek, left to warm applause at White Hart Lane for a plucky performance that deserved more than a point against high-riding Blackburn.
    Rovers had French defender Patrick Valery sent off for a second yellow card 11 minutes from the end and had to battle to earn a share of the honours against a side who had tiny Portuguese winger Jose Dominguez and Paul Mahorn, a virtually unknown reserve striker until he scored the winner against Carlisle on Wednesday, leading their attack.
    In the end Blackburn were able to reflect cheerfully on two fine first-half saves by goalkeeper Tim Flowers which deprived Dominguez and David Howells and the goalline clearance by Valery which robbed Howells again.

    But Blackburn were hardly any threat at all to a Tottenham defence whose latest missing man was John Scales through a groin injury, although that was nothing compared to their gaps in attack - six strikers, including England's Les Ferdinand and Norwegian Steffen Iversen, were all indisposed.
    By the finish Spurs were so desperate up front that they sent on Swiss central defender Ramon Vega as a makeshift striker, but the breakthrough would not come as rugged Rovers held their ground.
    It cost them Valery's dismissal for fouls on Justin Edinburgh and Dominguez as well as bookings for Garry Flitcroft and Tim Sherwood, making his first start of the season.

    But there were precious few other statistics as Rovers, despite going into the game with 24 goals from their first seven outings of the season, were able to register on the scoresheet.
    They took half an hour to have their first real shot at goal and 12 minutes more before going close again through the all-action Sherwood.
    Apart from that it was Spurs in command but lacking the vital touch in front of goal to grab the victory they deserved.
    Blackburn badly missed the injured Kevin Gallacher but manager Roy Hodgson will find that little excuse in the light of Tottenham's injury victims.
    David Ginola, fortunately for Spurs, was back to something like his extravagant best with a series of creative moves which promised openings for the livewire Dominguez and the willing Mahorn.
    But Sherwood's saves in the end kept Blackburn afloat, although they will face easier games than this in their bid for the championship.