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Spurs continue revival under Harry

23/11/2008

Tottenham Hotspur have moved out of the relegation zone after beating ten-man Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at White Hart Lane.

Roman Pavlyuckenko netted in the first half to give Spurs their sixth win in all competitions since Harry Redknapp took charge.

Rovers had Martin Olsson sent off for two bookable offences in the first half and the defeat leaves them languishing in 19th place.

And Spurs were well worth their victory after a confident start against Paul Ince's men. They grabbed the lead after just nine minutes when Olsson gifted possession to Aaron Lennon, whose cross was slotted in by Pavlyuchenko.

The Russian came agonizingly close to scoring his second nine minutes later when he rattled the post with a header from David Bentley's free-kick.
At the other end, Heurelho Gomes' calamitous keeping continued as he missed a cross which Jonathan Woodgate had to clear off the line from Brett Emerton's chip while the Brazilian then spilled a corner which Spurs managed to clear.

But the visitors' chances of salvaging something were dealt a blow on 39 minutes when Swede Olsson was given a second yellow by referee Howard Webb for tripping Lennon.

Despite being a man down Rovers continued to carve out chances with Benni McCarthy volleying over from six yards while Morten Gamst Pedersen sent a free-kick inches wide.

Redknapp's men failed to capitalise on their man advantage in the second half, squandering a host of chances.

First, Tom Huddlestone's swerving effort went over the bar from close range while Lennon's shot from Huddlestone's cross was beaten away by Paul Robinson.

But the biggest culprit was substitute Fraizer Campbell who headed David Bentley's cross wide with the goal at his mercy.

Rovers nearly punished Spurs' wastefulness in front of goal when Roque Santa Cruz got on the end of a floated free-kick but his back-flick went over the bar as Spurs held on to move into 14th place in the table.