After Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy branded the club's season as "unacceptable," described the team's current form as "appalling" and warned of changes behind the scenes in the summer, the team ended their home programme with a workmanlike victory over lacklustre Rovers.

Even with this win - courtesy of Jermain Defoe's stunning 17th-minute strike - the team will finish the season just above the relegation places and as London's bottom club in the Premiership.

The club have been without a permanent manager since sacking Glenn Hoddle in September and placing director of football David Pleat in temporary charge.

In a programme message to the fans Levy said the appointment of a new coach was his priority, and in truth the mystery man cannot come quickly enough for the sake of everyone at the club.

The early stages of this game had all the hallmarks of a meaningless end-of-season affair, with the first incident of note coming when Mauricio Taricco aggravated a leg injury and was replaced in the 13th minute by Christian Ziege.

One of the brighter aspects of Tottenham's season has been the signing of Defoe from West Ham during the transfer window and the young England striker gave the fans something to celebrate with a blistering goal after 17 minutes.

It was route one football as Ledley King - outstanding at the back - played a long ball out of defence. Defoe nipped ahead of the Blackburn defence, allowed the ball to bounce once and ripped a fierce volley beyond Peter Enckelman and into the roof of the net for his sixth goal for the club.

It took a good save after 43 minutes from Enckelman - making his debut in the Rovers goal - to deny Robbie Keane as he tipped over the Irish striker's angled drive from just inside the penalty area.

Spurs almost gifted Rovers an equaliser three minutes after the break when Anthony Gardner was far too casual inside his own box and Andy Cole was able to slide in and tee-up Jon Stead. However, with only Kasey Keller to beat, the promising 21-year-old striker fired wide.

He almost made amends two minutes later when he ran on to Lucas Neill's through-ball down the right and got round Gardner, but this time his angled drive was well saved by Keller who tipped it round his far post.

Rovers missed another good chance after 52 minutes when Tugay chipped in a corner from the right and Jon Douglas planted a free header wide of the near post from just six yards.

Spurs almost sealed the points after 69 minutes when Defoe raced into the box down the right flank and chipped in a far-post cross which Keane did well to reach but saw his header crash back off the bar.

Then after 76 minutes Enckelman kept his team alive when he threw himself to his left to brilliantly push away another stinging Defoe drive.

There was an ironic moment in the second half when the home fans chanted "stand up if you want Pleat out" just as the suited boss rose from the bench to stand in the technical area.

After the job he has done since September, and with Levy warning of "tough decisions" in the summer, it remains to be seen whether or not Pleat will still be at White Hart Lane for the start of the next campaign.

Teams

Tottenham Keller, Kelly, Taricco (Ziege 12), King, Gardner, Brown, Redknapp (Poyet 86), Ricketts (Kanoute 63), Davies, Keane, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Doherty.

Goals: Defoe 18.

Blackburn Enckelman, Neill (Reid 59), Gray, Short, Douglas, Flitcroft (Gallagher 75), Tugay, Johansson, Andresen (Emerton 62), Cole, Stead.

Subs Not Used: Yelldell, Babbel.

Booked: Neill, Andresen.

Att: 35,698

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).