Blackburn romped into the UEFA Cup by thrashing 10-man Tottenham 4-0 as
Teddy Sheringham endured a bleak White Hart Lane farewell.
Rovers' easy success against spineless Spurs, allied to Everton's 2-1 defeat
against champions Manchester United at Goodison Park, ensured European football
will be played at Ewood Park again come August.
But while this was a joyous day for the Lancastrians, it was one of the
darkest days of Glenn Hoddle's increasingly-troubled reign and a
bitterly-disappointing final appearance for Sheringham, told this week his
contract would not be renewed.
The 37-year-old captain's farewell started to go wrong as early as the fifth
minute, when Andy Cole set up Dwight Yorke to sweep home the opener.
It got worse on the half-hour when Gus Poyet was dismissed by referee Andy
D'Urso for a disgraceful two-footed lunge on Garry Flitcroft which left the
Rovers skipper with blood pouring from a knee wound.
And when Craig Hignett lashed home his first goal of the season with a
beautiful 20-yard volley on the stroke of half-time, Sheringham must have known
his emotional day would end in defeat.
Damien Duff, in what could have been his final Rovers appearance before a
summer departure, made it 3-0 three minutes after the interval by sweeping home
a loose ball.
And Duff rounded Kasey Keller to set up Cole for number four on the hour.
The goal sparked an amazing reaction from the home fans. A few headed for the
exits with 30 minutes remaining - and the rest threw programmes onto the pitch
in disgust and chanted "You're not fit to wear the shirt" at their own
players.
Hoddle, his side 4-0 down and on track for their seventh defeat in 11 games,
watched much of the second half in silence with his arms folded across his
chest.
But while the mood among the home fans was understandably one of doom and
gloom, the vocal visiting supporters ensured there was a carnival atmosphere in
at least one corner of White Hart Lane.
Sheringham had been given a thunderous standing ovation as the home side
trotted onto the pitch wearing next season's new sky blue away kit.
Cole and Yorke teamed up to slice through the heart of the Spurs defence, with
only the former's poor control halting a sweet move.
Robbie Keane hit back and cleverly worked space inside Rovers' penalty area
before firing into the side-netting from an acute angle.
It had been a lively opening and Souness' side took the lead with five minutes
on the clock.
Cole laid the ball off to Yorke, who drilled the ball into the bottom right
corner via Kasey Keller's glove for his 13th goal of the season.
Andy Todd's excellent interception prevented Matthew Etherington reaching
Jamie Redknapp's angled pass and having the opportunity to equalise.
On the quarter-hour mark, Chris Perry towered above the Rovers defence and
headed Stephen Carr's free-kick over the top.
Sheringham was just a foot away from a fine leveller with 25 minutes gone. The
veteran frontman leapt highest in the box, meeting Etherington's corner and
smacking a powerful header just past the angle of post and bar.
This game took a dramatic twist on the half-hour, with Poyet making an
horrendous tackle on Flitcroft and earning a straight red card.
The Uruguayan midfielder leapt into a 50-50 challenge and left the Rovers
captain with blood pouring from his knee.
Tottenham's day got worse on the stroke of half-time when Hignett smashed home
a sweet volley to double the visitors' lead.
Chris Perry half-cleared a cross and Hignett dispatched an angled 20-yard
strike beyond Keller's dive.
The Londoners were 3-0 down within three minutes of the restart. Rovers broke
at pace with Duff slipping the ball wide to Cole. He crossed for Yorke and the
ball broke to the onrushing Duff, who side-footed into an empty net from eight
yards.
Keane had the opportunity to reduce the arrears after Jamie Redknapp's fine
through-ball - but the Republic of Ireland international shot straight at Brad
Friedel.
Blackburn showed the home side how it was done and made it 4-0 on the hour.
Yorke fed Duff, who skipped round Keller and squared for Cole to scuff the
ball home.
Perry, who had inadvertently set up Hignett's goal, almost gifted Rovers a
fifth in the 71st minute.
He stuttered in possession and Yorke nipped in to race goalwards and bring a
fine block from Keller.
Teams:
Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Perry, King, Taricco (Ziege 61),
Davies, Poyet, Redknapp (Toda 69), Etherington, Sheringham,
Keane.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Bunjevcevic, Acimovic.
Sent Off: Poyet (31).
Booked: Taricco.
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Martin Taylor,
McEveley (Johansson 63), Flitcroft (Dunn 45),
Hignett (Jansen 76), Tugay, Duff, Cole, Yorke.
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Sukur.
Booked: Neill.
Goals: Yorke 5, Hignett 45, Duff 48, Cole 60.
Att: 36,036
Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).
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