Tottenham Hotspur remain unbeaten at home under Harry Redknapp as they beat 10-man Blackburn Rovers 1-0.
Win takes Spurs out of the bottom three while Rovers stay 19th
Tottenham Hotspur remain unbeaten at home under Harry Redknapp as they beat 10-man Blackburn Rovers 1-0 thanks to a Roman Pavlyuchenko goal.
The game began brightly with both sides settling early on but it was Spurs who took the lead after just 10 minutes.
Aaron Lennon dispossessed Martin Olsson on the halfway line and reached the by-line before cutting the ball back to Pavlyuchenko who fired home.
Blackburn could have equalised when Benni McCarthy volleyed over but their task was made twice as hard when Olsson was sent off for two yellow cards as he was twice penalised for bringing down the lively Lennon in the 39th minute.
Pavlyuchenko could have doubled the lead shortly after his goal when his header hit the post from David Bentley's free-kick. Ryan Nelsen then cleared off the line when Ledley King steered the rebound on target.
Heurelho Gomes rushing out of his goal almost offered Rovers a way back into the game with Brett Emerton lobbing the ball over the Brazilian but Jonathan Woodgate beat Benni McCarthy to the loose ball and headed clear.
McCarthy also stabbed over from a promising position when Spurs defenders expected an offside flag as the visitors tried to fight their way back.
Red card
They looked to be making progress, with Christopher Samba almost on the end of an Emerton free-kick, but their efforts were undermined by Olsson receiving two yellow cards in 12 minutes.
It could have got worse for Rovers as Lennon lashed in a volley just before the break, with Nelsen required to make a decisive block.
Ince responded at half-time by taking off McCarthy for Danny Simpson. Roque Santa Cruz, who was left in attack on his own as a result, got on the end of a free-kick but his header was straight at Gomes.
Spurs continued to look for their second and Tom Huddlestone curled an effort from 30 yards that went just over Robinson's crossbar, while Andre Ooijer blocked when Darren Bent raced through.
Bentley sent over a cross that Samba needed to hack clear, while Lennon was demanding more of the ball on the right flank as Spurs looked to take advantage of their extra man.
Woodgate headed over from Bentley's free-kick, just after the former Rovers winger was tripped by Ooijer. Fraizer Campbell was sent on and should have headed in a second.
