Blackburn 2 Tottenham 1:Andre Ooijer stepped off the bench to score a dramatic late winner for Blackburn at Ewood Park and ease their fears of relegation. The Dutch defender took advantage three minutes from time when goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes failed to deal with a corner from El-Hadji Diouf.

That capped a superb fightback after Robbie Keane had put Tottenham ahead in the first half from the penalty spot.

But the game turned when Wilson Palacios was sent off and Benni McCarthy grabbed the equaliser to set up a rousing finale.

Diouf should have got Blackburn off to a good start but sent his header wide following a cross from Morten Gamst Pedersen in the 11th minute.

Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson then did well to parry a shot from Darren Bent to safety in the 18th minute after a fine through ball from Palacios.

Blackburn were forced to make a change in the 26th minute after Pedersen took a knock and was replaced by David Dunn.

After his equaliser in Bari during the week, Keane took his tally for the season to 10 goals in the 29th minute when he scored with a cool penalty.

Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen protested that the ball was not on the spot but referee Peter Walton would have none of it.

The penalty was awarded after Gael Givet was adjudged to have handled a cross from Aaron Lennon.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce made an extraordinary change at half-time, taking off Jason Roberts for Oijer and pushing central defender Christopher Samba into attack.

The gamble paid off with Samba making a nuisance of himself in his unlikely new role. He won a header in the penalty area after 47 minutes but Diouf sent his effort over the bar.

There was a moment of danger for the home side in the 65th minute when Jermaine Jenas made space in the area but there was no-one on hand to get on the end of his cross.

McCarthy should have pulled Blackburn level in the 75th minute when he headed wide following a cross from Diouf.

Four minutes later the game took another dramatic twist with Tottenham midfielder Palacios sent off after collecting two yellow cards in the space of two minutes.

Blackburn took advantage and McCarthy scored his 11th goal of the season from close range in the 81st minute after being set up by Samba.

Stephen Warnock’s shot was turned over in the 87th minute by Gomes. But the goalkeeper failed to deal with Diouf’s corner and Ooijer was on hand to end Tottenham’s six-match unbeaten league run.