Article: Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers Match History 1897 to 2011 | Football, Tottenham Hotspur

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Blackburn Rovers, who were one of the original 12 members of the Football League, host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 23rd October at Ewood Park in the 9th round of the 2011-12 Barclays Premier League (8th game for Spurs).

This will be the 109th time the two teams have met.

Tottenham's association with Blackburn goes back to even before the two clubs played each other. The young lads who were the early members of Hotspur FC (later to be called Tottenham Hotspur) took the afternoon off from their friendly football fixtures to watch the 1884 FA Cup Final at the old Crystal Palace between Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park from Glasgow, Scotland.

The lads were so impressed with Rover's 2-1 win (the first of three consecutive FA Cup Final wins) that they decided to adopt Rovers' strip of blue and white halved shirts in homage. When Spurs celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2007, the shirt was worn for the home Premier League match with Aston Villa.

April 1897 saw Rovers visit Spurs at Northumberland Park for a friendly match which the Lancashire club won 2-1.

The first competitive meeting came in the old second round (today's fourth round) of the FA Cup in February 1907 with the first match drawn 1-1 and a replay also drawn 1-1. A second replay took place at Villa Park where Spurs won 2-1.

Blackburn won the first League match against Spurs at Ewood Park (which is the oldest consecutive home of a Premier League team) in January 1910 2-0 but Spurs won the return game in March 4-0.

By the mid-1930s, both clubs were playing in the Second Division and ten games were played at this level. The only other non-Top Flight League matches came in 1977-78 when Spurs played their only season outside the top level since 1949-50.

Spurs did the "double" over Blackburn during their Double season of 1960-61, winning 4-1 away and 5-2 at home.

November 1988 saw the first Football League Cup match between the clubs with Rovers holding Spurs to a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane only to lose the replay 2-1 after extra time at Ewood Park.

Blackburn Rovers beat Tottenham Hotspur in the 2002 Football League Cup Final played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Both Blackburn and Spurs were founder members of the Premier League but only Tottenham have been ever-present since 1992-93.

Spurs won the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane last season in November 4-2 with a brace from Gareth Bale and goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch. Rovers two goals were scored by Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet.

The game at Ewood Park in February resulted in a 1-0 win for Spurs, thanks to a Peter Crouch goal.

Spurs signed former Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel (2000-08) during the summer.

Spurs have a 16 to 11 win advantage over Rovers in the 34 Premier League games played with 7 matches drawn.

Overall, Spurs have 48 wins to Rovers 38 with 22 matches of the 108 played so far drawn.

Full History of Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers Matches 1898-2011

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They Played for Spurs & Rovers....​

Bill Almond
Steve Archibald
Ossie Ardiles
David Bentley
Noel Brotherston
Pascal Chimbonda
George Grompton
Ronnie Dix
Mike England
Brad Friedel
Ted Harper
Archie Hughes
John 'Tiny' Joyce
Bobby Mimms
Paul Robinson
Tim Sherwood

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Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2011-12


Blackburn Rovers Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2011-12

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Thanks for the thread 60/61, excellent as ever.

How I wish we had Mike England now, a member of my all time Spurs XI.

 

Ossie played for Blackburn? I don't remember this. Went to PSG I think during the Falklands war - I guess it was after that?

 

Played five games for them in 1988

I looked it up. I didn't believe it either.

 

If it was only 5 games, not too worried it is early onset Alzheimers! Only other English team I remember him playing for was Swindon, where, like Hoddle co-incidentally, he was player manager.

 

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Another top-notch article, 6061.

 

Why has Kyle Walker not been included in the list of Goal scorers
Is this an attempt to change history

 

Good point.

Those figures were taken from the official Premier League stats, but there appears to be a few mistakes with them.

I keep my own records of Spurs' goal;s and assists and Kyle Walker most certainly appears in them...

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Another definitive article from THFC6061,

I have made this a 'sticky' so that we can use it for all comments on the match and as the match thread.

 

Thanks to Inda, I believe you. Otherwise would have said this looks photoshopped

Doesn't look right though. Can only think of him in our shirt or the Argy one.

 

i agree, it doesn't look right

 

In the picture of Ossie it looks really sunny...but only on his face and neck!

 

Is this where Sandro got his inspiration for his haircut from?

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The injury crisis at Ewood reaches ridiculous proportions!

Roar The Lion...thought it was Paul Roarbinson....I'll get my coat. <run> (can we get this smiley added to our list?)

 

I notice a lot of debate on other Spurs sites about where to play VDV tomorrow.

Surely he can nominally play on the right if Parker and Sandro are there to cover Walker's runs forward? That way VDV doesn't have to do much tracking back, which in his case tends to be a waste. I prefer Rafa in the last third, doing what he does best, scoring, linking and creating opportunities.

However, we can also nominally play 4-3-1-2 to comforfortably accomodate VDV as well

Parker Sandro Bale: Modric: Ade VDV

As long as these are the front six, I'm not too fussed about formations, except basic things like Bale on the left, (for the most part anyway).

These are top class footballers, I want us to play a fluid attacking, but balanced game. Those six should be able to provide that.

If for any reason, one of those 6 isn't match fit by kick off, then bring in Defoe/Livermore.

 

Harry has a decision to make re vDV. As good a player as he is, it's hard to fit him in. When he's on the right he's ok first half when the play is relatively condensed but we have players that really stretch the play & when the game gets more open second half he can't get up and down and we suffer as a result. I think we've looked better this season with Defoe with Ade up top. Ade really occupies the defense and Defoe's getting more time on the ball than he did last year with Pav or Crouch so he's able to get shots away more.

As Lennon's just finding his way back i'd expect vDV to start on the right against Blackburn, but if Lennon finds his form and fitness he's the better bet for right mid i.m.o.

vdv's a great player but he's just not an athlete & in the prem that's not ideal.

 

I don't think he's got any decision to make at all, no more than with Bale or Modric or any of our very top players anyway. If VDV is fit he starts, it's that simple.

He's absolutely key to us and is sooooooo much better than Lennon it's not even remotely close. As I say, when we play Parker and Sandro there should be no worries about covering. I will be shocked and angry if VDV is fit and doesn't start tomorrow or for any of the big games, and I would expect VDV to be the same.

If I was VDV I'd be straight on my phone to my agent making plans to move in the next available window, if that happened. (Normal rotation excepted, as happens with all our top players)

VDV, not good enough to play for Spurs, I don't think so. We're very lucky to have him, he's absolute class and a fighter too. I can't think of a better finisher than him since Jimmy Greaves, that's how good he is.

 

I'd reinstate the central pairing of Modric and Parker, stick van der Vaart back up top and start Lennon on the right.
We shouldn't need to play two holding players against Blackburn, especially in a 4-5-1 (or whatever variation you choose to call it).

Lennon's not back to full fitness and I doubt that he'd play the full 90, but the same is true of Sandro.
The best place for van der Vaart is playing between their defence and midfield, so I'm afraid that Livermore should be sacrificed.
The lad has a good future ahead of him, but he's up against intense competition for his place.
Learning by watching Parker from the bench for a while, whilst still getting game time in the Europa League, may be the best thing that could happen to him.
He's got all the same attributes, in my opinion, so if he can emulate the senior man's work rate, professionalism and attitude, then he could replace him outright in a season or two.

 

Fair comments PNP - It'll be fascinating, as usual, to see the team Harry picks.