We drew!
We were too cautious and rested 2 key players for the Saturday match with Chelsea.
Should have played full strength and get the 3 points.
Let's see if it is worthwhile. On with Chelsea...
Blackburn 0-0 Tottenham
Andy Todd found himself at the centre of a headbutting storm as Blackburn's season threatened to slip deeper into the disciplinary mire at Ewood Park following a goalless draw with Tottenham.
The Rovers defender clashed with Spurs' Andy Reid after 75 minutes in an off-the-ball incident which was missed by referee Dermot Gallagher and his assistants.
Replays appeared to show Todd aiming a butt at Reid, who was left sprawled on the ground - provoking a storm of protest from his team-mates who surrounded Gallagher.
To make matters worse for Rovers - fined £10,000 with £50,000 suspended for last season's disciplinary problems last week - they had Lucas Neill red-carded moments later for a two-footed lunge on Edgar Davids.
Before the late drama Rovers ought to have made Tottenham boss Martin Jol pay for his bizarre gamble on resting three star men with one eye on the weekend's big Barclays Premiership clash with Chelsea.
Davids, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick all started from the bench for Spurs - who knew another three points would be enough to lift them back to the top of the fledgling table.
Instead Rovers threatened to punish their opponents with the better chances throughout against a visiting side who looked shapeless and unthreatening, with Robbie Keane ploughing a lonely furrow up front.
In contrast, Rovers' rugged sole striker Shefki Kuqi was full of running as the home side immediately sought to impose themselves on the proceedings.
Brett Emerton had a shot blocked in the box by Anthony Gardner and the in-form Morten Gamst Pedersen almost took advantage of a mistake by Paul Stalteri in the eighth minute, dispossessing the defender on the goal line only for his cross to skate across the face of goal.
Spurs got forward well in patches, with Reid judged to have taken the ball out of play before crossing for Keane, whose shot was blocked anyway by Brad Friedel in the 10th minute.
Pedersen came close to converting another classy effort in the 14th minute, firing a left-footed free-kick just wide of Paul Robinson's left-hand post after Brown's foul on Steven Reid 25 yards out.
The visitors were clearly lacking Defoe's dynamism up front as Rovers continued to hold the upper-hand, coming close again when Pedersen stretched at the far post and just failed to meet a neat right-wing cross by Emerton.
Then Pedersen played back Todd's neat through-ball into the path of Reid who whacked a powerful effort just wide of target.
Michael Dawson received the first caution of the night for tripping a demonstrative Savage running towards goal, before the Welshman got up to fire his free-kick into the wall.
Spurs mustered their first shot moments later when Reid lofted a straightforward effort into Friedel's arms.
But Rovers continued to have the better chances and Kuqi should have done better after getting in behind Gardner on the half-hour to reach Pedersen's ball from the left.
The Finnish international slid in and sent his shot beyond the advancing Robinson and well wide of the keeper's right-hand post.
Rovers came even closer in the 39th minute when Tugay's free-kick from wide on the left was missed by both Ryan Nelsen and Andy Todd in front of goal with Robinson beaten.
The visitors were looking far from a team intent on regaining their place at the top of the league as they strained under the home side's attack and created precious little themselves.
After a dismal first eight minutes of the second half, Jol finally elected to inject some more ambition into his side, replacing Mido with Davids.
Rovers could hardly be faulted for their efforts, continuing to get forward well through Pedersen and forcing a succession of dangerous set-pieces.
Kuqi missed another fine chance in the 55th minute when he chested down a cross from Reid before poking his shot from 10 yards straight into Robinson's midriff.
Furious Kuqi was denied a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 70th minute after apparently being hauled over by Dawson, then moments later Erik Edman also escaped for his challenge on Emerton in the box.
Then came Todd's fiery moment which appears certain to earn him belated FA censure if he is found to have connected with Reid - and Neill's challenge which brought Rovers their second red card of the season.
• Jol bemoans Rovers tactics
Tottenham boss Martin Jol questioned the conduct of Blackburn defender Andy Todd after a fiery goalless draw at Ewood Park tonight.
Jol said his midfielder Andy Reid had 'a big lump on his forehead' after a 75th minute off-the-ball incident which was not seen by referee Dermot Gallagher and his assistants.
The pair clashed in the middle of the Spurs half with Todd appearing to aim a headbutt at Reid, who then collapsed to the floor in agony. Jol chose his words carefully after a game in which Lucas Neill was sent off for a late two-footed lunge on Edgar Davids.
The Dutchman said: 'Blackburn were very aggressive - the evidence is Andy Reid has a big lump on his forehead.
'You can see it on the television. Sometimes in games like this you get a bit excited and Todd was a bit excited, otherwise I cannot understand this sort of action.
'But it is difficult to talk about another team because that is the responsibility of the other manager.'
Rovers boss Mark Hughes insisted he was not been aware of the incident until he was made aware of it afterwards and would view television evidence and speak to Todd before apportioning blame.
Hughes said: 'I've got players with lumps as well but I'm not going to stand here and defend something I can't really pass comment on until I've seen the pictures and spoken to the boy.'
Nevertheless Hughes found himself defending his side from more disciplinary accusations again and admitted Neill deserved his second yellow card for his challenge on Davids.
Hughes added: 'It was an ill-advised challenge given he already had a yellow card.
'Lucas made a genuine attempt to get the ball but the momentum took him through the player and the guy ended up in a heap on the floor - if you've had one yellow you're likely to get another.'
Meanwhile Hughes admitted he was disappointed with just a point from a game his side largely dominated, adding: 'I think we were the better side for the whole evening and the only time we really came under pressure was the last 10 minutes when we were down to 10 men.'
Jol conceded that Blackburn were the better team but defended his decision to start with Davids, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick on the bench due to fitness concerns.
Jol added: 'Blackburn were better than we were so I think we can be satisfied with a point, but in the first half we did not play as well as we have before.'
Should have played full strength and get the 3 points.
Let's see if it is worthwhile. On with Chelsea...
Blackburn 0-0 Tottenham
Andy Todd found himself at the centre of a headbutting storm as Blackburn's season threatened to slip deeper into the disciplinary mire at Ewood Park following a goalless draw with Tottenham.
The Rovers defender clashed with Spurs' Andy Reid after 75 minutes in an off-the-ball incident which was missed by referee Dermot Gallagher and his assistants.
Replays appeared to show Todd aiming a butt at Reid, who was left sprawled on the ground - provoking a storm of protest from his team-mates who surrounded Gallagher.
To make matters worse for Rovers - fined £10,000 with £50,000 suspended for last season's disciplinary problems last week - they had Lucas Neill red-carded moments later for a two-footed lunge on Edgar Davids.
Before the late drama Rovers ought to have made Tottenham boss Martin Jol pay for his bizarre gamble on resting three star men with one eye on the weekend's big Barclays Premiership clash with Chelsea.
Davids, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick all started from the bench for Spurs - who knew another three points would be enough to lift them back to the top of the fledgling table.
Instead Rovers threatened to punish their opponents with the better chances throughout against a visiting side who looked shapeless and unthreatening, with Robbie Keane ploughing a lonely furrow up front.
In contrast, Rovers' rugged sole striker Shefki Kuqi was full of running as the home side immediately sought to impose themselves on the proceedings.
Brett Emerton had a shot blocked in the box by Anthony Gardner and the in-form Morten Gamst Pedersen almost took advantage of a mistake by Paul Stalteri in the eighth minute, dispossessing the defender on the goal line only for his cross to skate across the face of goal.
Spurs got forward well in patches, with Reid judged to have taken the ball out of play before crossing for Keane, whose shot was blocked anyway by Brad Friedel in the 10th minute.
Pedersen came close to converting another classy effort in the 14th minute, firing a left-footed free-kick just wide of Paul Robinson's left-hand post after Brown's foul on Steven Reid 25 yards out.
The visitors were clearly lacking Defoe's dynamism up front as Rovers continued to hold the upper-hand, coming close again when Pedersen stretched at the far post and just failed to meet a neat right-wing cross by Emerton.
Then Pedersen played back Todd's neat through-ball into the path of Reid who whacked a powerful effort just wide of target.
Michael Dawson received the first caution of the night for tripping a demonstrative Savage running towards goal, before the Welshman got up to fire his free-kick into the wall.
Spurs mustered their first shot moments later when Reid lofted a straightforward effort into Friedel's arms.
But Rovers continued to have the better chances and Kuqi should have done better after getting in behind Gardner on the half-hour to reach Pedersen's ball from the left.
The Finnish international slid in and sent his shot beyond the advancing Robinson and well wide of the keeper's right-hand post.
Rovers came even closer in the 39th minute when Tugay's free-kick from wide on the left was missed by both Ryan Nelsen and Andy Todd in front of goal with Robinson beaten.
The visitors were looking far from a team intent on regaining their place at the top of the league as they strained under the home side's attack and created precious little themselves.
After a dismal first eight minutes of the second half, Jol finally elected to inject some more ambition into his side, replacing Mido with Davids.
Rovers could hardly be faulted for their efforts, continuing to get forward well through Pedersen and forcing a succession of dangerous set-pieces.
Kuqi missed another fine chance in the 55th minute when he chested down a cross from Reid before poking his shot from 10 yards straight into Robinson's midriff.
Furious Kuqi was denied a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 70th minute after apparently being hauled over by Dawson, then moments later Erik Edman also escaped for his challenge on Emerton in the box.
Then came Todd's fiery moment which appears certain to earn him belated FA censure if he is found to have connected with Reid - and Neill's challenge which brought Rovers their second red card of the season.
• Jol bemoans Rovers tactics
Tottenham boss Martin Jol questioned the conduct of Blackburn defender Andy Todd after a fiery goalless draw at Ewood Park tonight.
Jol said his midfielder Andy Reid had 'a big lump on his forehead' after a 75th minute off-the-ball incident which was not seen by referee Dermot Gallagher and his assistants.
The pair clashed in the middle of the Spurs half with Todd appearing to aim a headbutt at Reid, who then collapsed to the floor in agony. Jol chose his words carefully after a game in which Lucas Neill was sent off for a late two-footed lunge on Edgar Davids.
The Dutchman said: 'Blackburn were very aggressive - the evidence is Andy Reid has a big lump on his forehead.
'You can see it on the television. Sometimes in games like this you get a bit excited and Todd was a bit excited, otherwise I cannot understand this sort of action.
'But it is difficult to talk about another team because that is the responsibility of the other manager.'
Rovers boss Mark Hughes insisted he was not been aware of the incident until he was made aware of it afterwards and would view television evidence and speak to Todd before apportioning blame.
Hughes said: 'I've got players with lumps as well but I'm not going to stand here and defend something I can't really pass comment on until I've seen the pictures and spoken to the boy.'
Nevertheless Hughes found himself defending his side from more disciplinary accusations again and admitted Neill deserved his second yellow card for his challenge on Davids.
Hughes added: 'It was an ill-advised challenge given he already had a yellow card.
'Lucas made a genuine attempt to get the ball but the momentum took him through the player and the guy ended up in a heap on the floor - if you've had one yellow you're likely to get another.'
Meanwhile Hughes admitted he was disappointed with just a point from a game his side largely dominated, adding: 'I think we were the better side for the whole evening and the only time we really came under pressure was the last 10 minutes when we were down to 10 men.'
Jol conceded that Blackburn were the better team but defended his decision to start with Davids, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick on the bench due to fitness concerns.
Jol added: 'Blackburn were better than we were so I think we can be satisfied with a point, but in the first half we did not play as well as we have before.'
posted by dgarden at 8:28 am
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