Gritty Blackburn thwart Spurs’ UEFA Cup dreams

Tottenham 0 Blackburn 0

In the end it mattered little that they only managed an uninspiring goalless draw because Middlesbrough cemented their place in Europe with a draw against Manchester City.

But a win could have been crucial. It would have propelled Tottenham into eighth and in prime position for a UEFA Cup place if Liverpool go on to win the Champions League and are allowed to defend their trophy.

Tottenham, despite flashes from Fredi Kanoute, lacked ideas going forward and yet Defoe was not introduced until an hour had gone.

But Jol said: “We beat Villa 5-1 and Robbie Keane was playing. We beat Everton 5-1 and Robbie Keane started. In the last couple of matches I thought Jermain wasn’t as sharp as he can be and Robbie was. That was the reason he played today.

“But we weren’t creative enough to open them up. If we had scored in the first 15 minutes maybe they would have opened up. We have some difficulties against teams who play the way they do. We have to work on that creativity and we need better service, that is something to improve on.”

Now, Jol is keeping his fingers crossed that Tottenham qualify through the lottery of the UEFA Fair Play league.

But when the Dutchman took over from Jacques Santini in November his target was not Europe but developing a young side which will challenge for honours next year and in future seasons.

That proved costly as Tottenham lacked maturity at crucial points during the season, like at Middlesbrough last week when a 1-0 defeat proved to be the killer blow to their UEFA Cup qualification hopes.

Jol was disappointed to have missed out on seventh place, but the steps he has taken to rebuild Tottenham leave him with some optimism - certainly more than the likes of Iain Dowie and Nigel Worthington were feeling last night.

“If I think of fellow managers at the bottom clubs, it must be horrific to go down on the last day. This is the only country with a league like the Premiership.

“Brian Robson stayed up with my old club and that pleases me, but when you see Dowie that must be frustrating. I can’t complain. I am proud of my team.”

TOTTENHAM: Cerny, Kelly, Naybet, King, Edman, Davies, Davis (Marney 71), Carrick, Reid (Defoe 61), Kanoute, Keane.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Nelsen, Todd, McEveley, Emerton, Thompson, Mokoena, Savage, Pedersen, Stead (Johnson 61).

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).