Matt Jansen's debut goal was not enough to give Blackburn victory at Ewood
Park as Rovers had a man sent off for the third home game in succession.
Jansen put his new side in front two minutes before half-time but Steffen
Iversen's somewhat fortuitous equaliser on 61 minutes sealed a point for
Tottenham.
And the Lancashire club had to play out the final 28 minutes with 10 men after
Jason Wilcox was shown the red card for the second time this season for a late
lunge on Allan Nielsen which left the Spurs midfielder clutching his right
shin.
Blackburn, who have already had Tim Sherwood and Jeff Kenna dismissed against
Leeds and Sunderland respectively this month, had won their last four matches at
Ewood before today.
But after the departure of Wilcox - who had been playing in the unfamiliar
position of centre midfield in the absence of Sherwood, Garry Flitcroft and
Billy McKinlay - they had to defend desperately to hang on to a point.
Tottenham, without the suspended David Ginola, worked hard to try and fashion
a winner but the flamboyant Frenchman's presence was sorely missed as Spurs
missed out on the chance to win away in the Premiership for the first time since
George Graham took over in early October.
The events of the final half-an-hour did not make for pleasant viewing for
home fans but they will have left Ewood Park heartened by Jansen's all-action
display.
He was the last of the six senior strikers currently on Blackburn's books to
arrive at the club but if he keeps playing as well as he did this afternoon, the
other five will have to fight it out to partner him up front.
Full of twists and turns, feints and flicks, 21-year-old Jansen looked to be
worth every penny of the £4.1million Brian Kidd splashed out on him 12 days ago
as he led Tottenham's two international centre-backs Sol Campbell and Ramon Vega
a merry dance.
He got the better of both defenders, particularly Campbell, time and again,
and it was the England star who he outfoxed to create the opening for his goal.
There appeared to be little danger as Jansen collected the ball 20 yards out
with his back to goal but he half-turned Campbell and unleashed a volley which
was not the most powerful but still seemed to bemuse Ian Walker as the keeper
stood and watched it sail inside his post.
That was Jansen's only clearcut chance of the entire match, though he did
overrun the ball when clean through as Tottenham were caught out at the back
soon after half-time.
However, he caused Spurs as many problems outside the penalty area with his
pace and skill, and the visitors would have been relieved to see him substituted
after 62 minutes of a brilliant bow.
But while Kidd will be delighted with the displays of both Jansen and fellow
debutant Jason McAteer, who had an effective game on the right side of midfield,
he could be excused if he was becoming worried about their disciplinary
problem.
Wilcox, who was also dismissed at Lyon in the UEFA Cup in September, was the
eighth Blackburn player to be shown the red card this season.
Ashley Ward and Filan also picked up needless bookings for dissent and the
last thing Kidd's side need in their current precarious predicament is to lose
players to suspension.
But it is a credit to their fighting spirit - something which was missing in
Roy Hodgson's final few weeks in charge at Blackburn - that they were able to
keep Tottenham at bay.
And they could be justified in querying the legitimacy of Spurs' equaliser,
Les Ferdinand appearing to collide with keeper John Filan as the two jumped for
a high ball.
But referee Neale Barry allowed play to continue and though Filan saved
Ferdinand's follow-up effort, he could only palm the ball against the onrushing
Iversen's head and the ball flew into the net.
Wilcox chased Barry upfield for several yards to contest the decision but the
goal stood and a minute later, the midfielder was given his marching orders and
Rovers had to be happy with a draw.
Teams:
Blackburn: Filan, Kenna, Henchoz, Broomes, Davidson, McAteer,
Dunn (Peacock 85), Wilcox, Duff (Marcolin 62), Ward,
Jansen (Davies 63).
Subs Not Used: Croft, Flowers.
Sent Off: Wilcox (62).
Booked: Dunn, Ward, Filan, Davies.
Goals: Jansen 43.
Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Vega, Campbell, Edinburgh, Anderton,
Nielsen, Freund, Sinton (Armstrong 85), Iversen, Ferdinand.
Subs Not Used: Fox, Taricco, Young, Baardsen.
Booked: Freund, Nielsen, Carr.
Goals: Iversen 61.
Att: 29,643
Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
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