Reassurance for Spurs as Rovers' resistance crumbles

Tottenham 2 Blackburn 0:THIS 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers brought reassurance to a club in need of fresh impetus.

Tottenham Hotspur, following consecutive losses in the Premier League to Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City, had to re-establish confidence. They did so and occupy fourth place in the table, if only on goal difference.

In March, Blackburn had given the impression of rallying to retain Premier League status, but Steve Kean's side could not extend that recovery.

They did resist to a degree at White Hart Lane but the defending was frantic rather than studied and their opponents were bound to insist on goals before long.

Aaron Lennon crossed deep from the right and although Scott Dann prevented Gareth Bale's header from crossing the line he did send the ball against the crossbar. With Emmanuel Adebayor acting as a shield, Rafael van der Vaart then shot home the opener in the 22nd minute.

Sandro had already hit the underside of the bar with a drive in the ninth minute. Nothing could break Tottenham's authority and they were not distracted even when Sandro appeared to be sick.

Whatever his condition, this contest was generally a tonic for Tottenham.

Blackburn were obliged to concentrate on resistance, even if that meant pulling Bradley Orr back into the defence. There was some success, insofar as the match grew dull, but at the same time it left Tottenham's command utterly unchallenged and the visitors did not get an attempt on target. Nor was there an effort that missed.

Any dissatisfaction in the crowd would have lain with the lack of ruthlessness from Spurs.

Blackburn's purpose appeared not to be a quest for a draw so much as an exercise that would limit the harm done to morale.

That plan floundered completely when Kyle Walker hit a beautiful 30-yard free-kick high past the left-hand of Paul Robinson in the 75th minute to ensure a win that had not been in doubt in any case.

Tottenham's next fixture is at Bolton Wanderers. They, too, risk relegation yet there will surely be the degree of intensity that eluded Blackburn and not simply because they are at home. At White Hart Lane, the attitude of Kean's line-up was even more inadequate than the performance itself.