2:50pm Saturday 13th March 2010
A ROMAN Pavlyuchenko brace gave Tottenham a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
The striker struck twice in the second half, to add to Jermain Defoe's first half effort, sandwiched between Chris Samba's header.
Rovers face an anxious wait over the fitness of Paul Robinson as well after he was carried off in the first half with a calf injury and replaced by Jason Brown.
Roman Pavlyuchenko doubled Tottenham's lead on 55 minutes, after the visitors had started the half the brighter of the two sides.
The striker's shot from 18 yards went under substitute keeper Jason Brown and into the back of the net to effectively seal the win for the hosts.
Gareth Bale thought he had won his side a penalty on 67, after tumbling under Michel Salgado's challenge, although replays indicate there was no contact.
Chris Samba's towering header on 80 minutes though gave the visitors hope as he powered home Morten Gamst Pedersen's looping corner from the right.
That hope was killed just five minutes later though as Pavlyuchenko grabbed his second of the game, tapping home Bale's lower cross from close range.
Nikola Kalinic then had a brilliant volleyed goal disallowed for handball, even though it was him that had been shoved by Dawson.
Jermain Defoe had prodded home from close range after Niko Kranjcar's left wing corner was flicked on by Vedran Corluka on 45 minutes to give Spurs the half time lead.
Rovers could count themselves unfortunate to have behind though with David Dunn denied a blatant penalty and Samba almost heading them ahead.
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