Blackburn Rovers Vs Tottenham Hotspur: Match Thread

[chrissivad]

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Blackburn Rovers Vs Tottenham Hotspur​

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Ewood Park Date: Wednesday, 2 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles​

For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
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Santa Cruz out for Rovers; Modric joins Spurs absentees


Tottenham will be determined to get back on track when they visit Ewood Park to tackle a Blackburn side in European contention.

Rovers have produced a number of encouraging performances since Steve Kean replaced Sam Allardyce as manager before Christmas.

There has also been plenty of good news off the field, with Chris Samba following in the footsteps of Ryan Nelsen, Michel Salgado and Jason Roberts by agreeing a new deal at Ewood Park.

Blackburn moved into eighth position courtesy of a 2-0 victory over West Brom in their most recent Premier League fixture, before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa at the weekend.

Spurs, meanwhile, suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham at the weekend to end their dreams of FA Cup glory for another year.

They have also lost their consistency in the Premier League in recent weeks, collecting just two points from their past three games.

Having missed out on a number of transfer targets this winter and with injuries and suspensions taking their toll, Harry Redknapp faces a stern challenge to get the best out of those troops that are still available for selection.

Tottenham are currently six points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea and will feel they need to halve that deficit on Wednesday to stay on course for UEFA Champions League qualification.

Team news
Blackburn's preparations for the game have been rocked by the news that Roque Santa Cruz will be out for a couple of weeks with a groin strain.
El-Hadji Diouf has moved to Rangers on loan so there could be a start in attack for Nikola Kalinic.

Defenders Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet will have late fitness tests and manager Kean will not throw transfer deadline day signings Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina into the fray.

Tottenham's mounting injury problems in defence mean that Jonathan Woodgate could make his first appearance for 14 months.

Woodgate has been out with a long-standing groin injury but has been included in the squad given that Ledley King (groin), Younes Kaboul (knee) and Michael Dawson (suspension) are definitely out and William Gallas is doubtful with a hip injury.

Wilson Palacios has recovered from a knee injury but Gareth Bale (back) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain sidelined.

Luka Modric has also joined the list of absentees after Spurs confirmed on Wednesday he will be sidelined for around two weeks following appendix surgery.
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Blackburn are without Roque Santa Cruz after he tweaked his groin in the FA Cup defeat by Aston Villa.

Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet are doubts, while new signings Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina will not feature.

Tottenham are without Luke Modric for two weeks after he had his appendix removed, and Gareth Bale remains out.

They have a defensive crisis as Michael Dawson is suspended and Younes Kaboul is sidelined following knee surgery, so Jonathan Woodgate could return.

Blackburn
Doubtful: Givet (groin), Nelsen (knee)
Injured/unavailable: Emerton (fatigue), Jones (knee), Santa Cruz (groin)

Tottenham
Suspended: Dawson (one match)
Doubtful: Gallas (hip), Palacios (knee), Woodgate (fitness)
Injured: Bale (back), Huddlestone (ankle), Kaboul (knee), Modric (appendix), King (groin)

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Both clubs bowed out of the FA Cup at the weekend without so much as a whimper and will now turn their attentions to league campaigns that have a lot at stake.

Having started November just outside the relegation zone, Blackburn have rocketed up the table thanks to an erratic run of results that has seen them alternate between victory and defeat.

They now sit eighth, just two places behind Spurs, and new manager Steve Kean has calmly ridden out the storm caused by Sam Allardyce's departure. Although a marquee signing like David Beckham or Ronaldinho has eluded the club's new owners, they must be very pleased by the top-half position Kean has achieved with a squad that were said to be mutinous only weeks ago.

Tottenham's dreams of winning a trophy at Wembley when the year ends in one took a savage blow when they were thrashed by Fulham, meaning their hopes of glory at the famous stadium now rest on reaching the Champions League final in London in May.

Their prospects of qualifying for the tournament again next season have faltered following a run of three league matches without a win. But the fixture computer has been kind and, with none of the top four to face until the middle of April, Harry Redknapp's side will fancy their chances of leapfrogging Chelsea into fourth and dining at the top table of European football for another year.

Head-to-head
• Tottenham won both fixtures last season and beat Rovers again at White Hart Lane in November.
• Spurs have lost just two of their last 14 league matches against Blackburn.
• This is the 107th meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 47 matches, Blackburn 36 and there have been 23 draws.


Blackburn
• Rovers have lost all nine league games this season when they have conceded the opening goal.
• They have won five of their last seven league matches at Ewood Park.


Tottenham
• Spurs are unbeaten in all nine league matches where they have scored first this season.
• They have won five Premier League matches this season after conceding the opening goal - more than any other club in the division.
• Eight of the club's 10 league wins this season have included either a goal from Rafael van der Vaart or Gareth Bale.


LEADING GOALSCORERS

Blackburn

Mame Diouf: 6 goals (3 league); Kalinic: 5 goals (4 league)


Tottenham

Van der Vaart: 11 goals (9 league); Bale: 11 goals (7 league)



MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Stuart Burt & David Richardson
Fourth official: Phil Dowd
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[cozzo]

This is gonna be the most depressing match thread ever!

 

[stevenurse]

With jones out and nelson doubtful who would fill in for them? If givet is also out that could be a blessing for Lennon. It's a shame bale won't be able to terrorise Salgado again. Just a shame we only have crouch to attack the crosses and they have samba eh.

Watch crouch get a hat-trick tonight now

 

[degoose]

Kick off is actually at 20:00

anyway interesting game coming up . Im wondering who will partner bassong in defence and who will go in the middle. Im thinking

krancjar - pienaar - palacios - lennon

 

[mike_l]

With jones out and nelson doubtful who would fill in for them? If givet is also out that could be a blessing for Lennon. It's a shame bale won't be able to terrorise Salgado again. Just a shame we only have crouch to attack the crosses and they have samba eh.

Watch crouch get a hat-trick tonight now

I'm actually gonna skip the match and watch a dvd that I'm recording this afternoon of myself having a threesome with Megan Fox and Elisha Cuthbert, it's not confirmed to happen but I think it's a much more likely scenario.

 

[chkthfc82]

I just can't see us getting much out of this one, our form has been poor of late and with no bale or luka i think blackburn will edge this one 1-0.

i hope i'm wrong of course!!!!

 

[JerryGarcia]

It's time for the team to step up and it's time for us to get behind them. Come on you Spurs!

 

[Mr Pink]

Think a draw is the best we can hope for if Harry starts Crouch up top and plays 4-4-1-1.

I am hoping for:

Gomes

Hutton
Gallas/Woody
Bassong
Ekotto

Lennon
Palacios
VDV
Pieenar

Pav
Defoe


We need the win - lets go for it. This a real test of Harry's courage and self belief as a manager tonight.

That team has more than enough quality to win this game. Its all about application and earning the right to showcase our superior quality.

Kep player tonight: Wilson Palacios

I would give him the armband and tell him we need an epic peformance from him in the centre tonight. Totally integral to our 'earning the right to play'.

VDV can dictate the tempo a bit deeper and Pienaar can tuck in from the left at times to cover VDV when he gets forward.

If we show togetherness and a never say die attitude we might just sneak the win here if our strikers can actually make some contribution.

Now let us pray ray:

 

[Spurger King]

This is gonna be the most depressing match thread ever!

:lol: probably. Maybe we could liven it up by turning it into a 'pessimistic Spurs fan' drinking game...

Palacios giving the ball away = 1 shot

Harry spinning around in despair = 1 shot

Us giving a penalty away = 2 shots

Crouchy doing his silly face rub thing = 2 shots

Gomes feigning injury after letting in a soft goal = 3 shots

One of our strikers scoring = 5 pints of beer (and a prostitute presumably)

 

[Mr Pink]

:lol: probably. Maybe we could liven it up by turning it into a 'pessimistic Spurs fan' drinking game...

Palacios giving the ball away = 1 shot

Harry spinning around in despair = 1 shot

Us giving a penalty away = 2 shots

Crouchy doing his silly face rub thing = 2 shots

Gomes feigning injury after letting in a soft goal = 3 shots

One of our strikers scoring = 5 pints of beer (and a prostitute presumably)

Defoe and VDV both getting set off...10 shots

Hutton scoring with his thigh...5 shots

Gomes dropping more than 3 crossses....3 shots

Ekotto moment of madness....1 shot

 

[kishman]

We need to get back to winning ways ASAP. COYS!

 

[yozza]

I think it's going to be a tough game tonight, but hopefully the lads can go up there and get the right result.

On a side note, Phil Beal is at my work as I write this! Turns out he's a mate of my boss. Seems like a very nice bloke :grin:

 

[dvdhopeful]

Would be a massive lift, 3 points tonight, quality performance at the weekend against Bolton. 6 points from 6 could really kick fire us again. VDV needs to get back to what he was doing at the start of the season. Forwards need to get some service and take their chances when they do.

How invaluable could a fit Woodgate be for us?

 

[Matt C]

We are going to get hammered tonight don't think I will bother listening to it, too depressing, 3-0 Blackburn

 

[beals]

After the debacle of our last outing I'm expecting a big performance tonight. We here all the time about how good a squad we have, well tonight is the night for our players to show that. We need to get back to wining ways and its up to whoever is on the park tonight to be up for it from the off, and to show all the fans how they will fight for the shirt and for our/their league position. COYS

 

[mattyspurs]

For fucks sake, can this thread get anymore depressing, it's still 4 1/2 hours to kick off for crying out loud.

We may not have signed a shiny new striker for us all to stare at and stroke, but we still have a wonderful team.

Lets go up there beleiving that the lads can do it and get back on track for a 4th place finish.

I am going tonight and I will be full of voice.

However Netty is also going apparently, which means we will loose

 

[Matt C]

After the debacle of our last outing I'm expecting a big performance tonight. We here all the time about how good a squad we have, well tonight is the night for our players to show that. We need to get back to wining ways and its up to whoever is on the park tonight to be up for it from the off, and to show all the fans how they will fight for the shirt and for our/their league position. COYS

We are down to the bare bones due to injuries, morale is very low at the club after the Fulham game and Levy's failure to invest in Jan, we have strikers who don't know how to score

I honestly fear we will miss out on a EUROPA place next season let alone CL

 

[dvdhopeful]

We are going to get hammered tonight don't think I will bother listening to it, too depressing, 3-0 Blackburn

:roll:

I've no idea where Spurs fans get their reputations from :lol:

We are down to the bare bones due to injuries, morale is very low at the club after the Fulham game and Levy's failure to invest in Jan, we have strikers who don't know how to score

I honestly fear we will miss out on a EUROPA place next season let alone CL

Oh it gets better :lol:

Bare bones is nonsense. Two quality right backs, Gallas/Bassong middle with Woodgate back. Benny is fit fortunately.

Lennon, Niko, Pienaar wings. Jenas, Sandro, Palacios middle.

Defoe, Crouch, Pav, VDV up top.

Hardly bare bones. We have good players missing, but we can't bang on about our squad and when a few can't play start whinging about bare bones?

 

[mattyspurs]

:roll:

I've no idea where Spurs fans get their reputations from :lol:

Tell me about it Ed. MattC you are a doughnut!!

 

[OneHotspur1988]

0-4 Spurs win

Defoe x 2

VDV x 1

OG x 1