Published: 29 April, 2012
Premier League
Spurs 2, Blackburn Rovers 0
by DAN CARRIER

TOTTENHAM’S Champions League dream lives on for another week after they despatched Blackburn Rovers at the Lane today (Sunday).

And manager Harry Redknapp said that with just three games to go, he is confident Spurs will make it into Europe’s premier cup competition.

Speaking after the game, he said: “We have two away games now, but we are confident. It is going to be hard to finish third but it is there to play for.”

In a one-sided game against the lowly Lancashire side, goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Kyle Walker sealed the points.

It put Spurs back into fourth spot.

Redknapp said that the performance, which comes in a sequence that has seen Spurs win just twice in nine league games, was all he expected from his players.

“We have not actually played badly recently,” he said. “We had a bad result against Norwich and a poor second half against Chelsea at Wembley, but otherwise I feel we have been playing well but not getting the results.”

He singled out Brazilian midfielder Sandro for praise. The youngster came into the team for the injured Scott Parker and was treated to a standing ovation when he was substituted with five minutes remaining.

“Sandro was brilliant,” said Redknapp.

“He looked like the player we knew we had on our hands last year. This season he has been injured and hasn’t been able to train regularly – but we saw today a player with big future.”

From the off Spurs tore into their visitors. Sandro laid out an early marker of the trouble struggling Blackburn were going to face with a run that took him deep into the penalty area on four minutes.

On eight he made the bar shake with an absolute thumper of a shot.

It looked as if his fresh legs was just what his jaded team-mates needed. For a defensive midfielder with a seek-and-destroy role, he got forward regularly, rattling the bar with a pile-driver and seeing another goal-bound effort blocked.

Sandro was crucial in the opener, too. Finding space on 21 minutes in a central position, it looked like he was gearing himself up for a shot. Instead he cutely picked out Lennon who chipped the ball on to the head of Bale. Bale’s effort hit the bar and van der Vaart was on hand to smash home.

It was all Spurs deserved. Brad Friedel, making his 300th consecutive league appearance, didn’t touch the ball once and Rovers registered precisely no shots on or off target throughout the 90 minutes.

Spurs saw out the second half with all the possession but a lack of killer creation in the last third. Both Modric and Bale shot wide, but instead of the game being made safe by one of Tottenham’s established attacking options, it was the right boot of full-back Kyle Walker who made it comfortable. On 74 the young PFA player of the year curled a stunning free-kick home from 25 yards. The relief was obvious.

Fourth spot, three games to go. Perhaps the gloomy clouds that have darkened the spring skies over White Hart Lane are finally lifting.

PLAYER RATINGS:

Friedel, n/a: It is impossible to give the goalkeeper a player rating when he simply did not have one shot to save.

Bale, 6: A solid but not eye-catching game.

Kaboul, 7: Marshalled Yakubu with no fuss – and was allowed by the one-sided nature of this match to how us his graceful passing ability too.

Lennon, 7: Full of running but as ever there was a slight air of exasperation regarding his crosses. Sub: Dos Santos

Adebayor, 7: Fought well, but as the centre-forward fulcrum, his lack of shots is always a worry.

Van der Vaart, 7: Scored the opener and linked things neatly. Sub: Defoe

Gallas, 7: Solid as ever.

Modric, 7: Didn’t exactly set the game alight but was always on hand.

Rose, 7: Took his chance to show what he can do. Made no errors.

Walker, 8: His goal will be savoured by Spurs fans long after this season has finished and been forgotten.

Sandro, 9: Turned in a wonderful all-round performance. Calm, unselfish, confident and mature. Standing ovation when he was subbed on 85. Sub: Livermore

EYEWITNESS: "Spurs' superstars take a back seat as youngsters shine" (click here)