Tottenham Hotspur 0 Blackburn Rovers 0

Last updated : 15 May 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Tottenham fought out a goalless draw with Blackburn at White Hart Lane and finally saw their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup fall by the wayside.

Martin Jol's side knew they faced an impossible task of cementing a top-seven finish following their defeat against Middlesbrough last week.

But on the evidence of this display, the Spurs players were already thinking of boarding a plane for their summer holidays and failed to give their fans a final day victory.

The home side started the strongest and could have opened the scoring after just eight minutes.

Robbie Keane's shot from the edge of the box was beaten away by Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel. And just sixty seconds later, Michael Carrick's cross-shot fell just wide of the goal.

Rovers defender Andy Todd had a golden chance to fire his side into the lead on 14 minutes. Robbie Savage's corner eventually found the Blackburn skipper and his close-range shot produced a superb save from Radek Cerny.

Simon Davies came close for Tottenham four minutes later when he saw his low drive well saved by Friedel diving low down to his right.

But it was Blackburn who had another great chance to break the deadlock on 20 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner eventually fell to David Thompson inside the box. The former Liverpool star was completely unmarked inside the box, but somehow managed to flash his close-range header wide of the post.

Fredi Kanoute produced a magical piece of skill two minutes later which almost handed his side the lead. Andy Reid played the ball into the Mali international and he superbly turned the Blackburn defence, but fired his shot straight at Friedel.

Kanoute came close again soon afterwards after Keane played a clever ball into his path. But the Spurs striker saw his 25-yard drive tipped round the post by Friedel.

Thompson pulled all the strings for Blackburn and came close to getting himself on the scoresheet on 51 minutes when his powerful shot produced a fine save by Cerny.

Savage was lucky to still be on the pitch just two minutes later. After receiving a yellow card, the Welsh international lunged in on Stephen Kelly, but escaped with a stern talking to by referee Alan Wiley.

Noureddine Naybet then wasted a chance to break the deadlock. Reid's perfectly taken free-kick picked out Naybet inside the box, but he volleyed the ball wide of the post.

Keane also came close on the hour mark when he turned inside the box and struck his shot inches past the post.

In an attempt to break the deadlock, Jol decided to bring on Jermain Defoe and play with a three-man attack.

But it was the Blackburn dangerman Thompson who threatened the Spurs goal on 76 minutes when Savage's free-kick into the box fell into his path, but he dragged his shot just over the crossbar.