BENNI McCarthy's coolly-taken header has kept alive Blackburn's hopes of a top-seven spot as they took a half-time lead against Tottenham.

Rovers, looking for win to boost their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Cup next season, were unchanged from the side that defeated Newcastle 2-0 last time out.

Needing a win to stay in the hunt for a top-seven finish, which would mean avoiding the Intertoto Cup, McCarthy headed his 23rd goal of the season - and his 17th in the Premiership - in the 32nd minute.

Spurs, who would secure a European place with a win, struggled to force Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel into action.

The match was the 1,000th Premiership match televised on Sky, but the initial exchanges at White Hart Lane did not point to it being a classic.

Jermain Defoe, making his first start in a month, was almost sent through by Dimitar Berbatov early on but could not get the ball under control.

Eager to impress, Defoe then slid in to tackle Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen in the seventh minute.

Morten Gamst Pedersen crashed a drive wide of the side-netting a minute later following neat link-up play with Benni McCarthy at a corner - but there was nothing in the way of clear opportunities.

Pedersen's battle on the left flank against Pascal Chimbonda, the battle of the sharp hairstyles as the Spurs full-back was sporting new ponytails, resulted in the Rovers winger needing treatment for a head injury.

In the 20th minute, Aaron Mokoena picked up a yellow card for a foul on Malbranque.

The short free-kick found Chimbonda in the area but the full-back's cross was claimed bravely by Brad Friedel as Spurs players closed in.

Spurs were forced into a change just before the half-hour mark when Malbranque, still feeling the effects of Mokoena's challenge, was replaced by Hossam Ghaly.

It was in the 32nd minute that hitman McCarthy headed home the opener for Rovers.

The ball fell to Pedersen on the left and his telling cross was met by the South Africa striker, who had peeled away from Ledley King at the far post and coolly netted his 17th Premiership goal of the season.

Jason Roberts was looking for a second a minute later but his long-range effort was deflected and Paul Robinson saved.

Robinson was then forced to scramble clear when Michael Dawson sold him short with a backpass. David Bentley was also given an opportunity when Chimbonda ran into trouble on the edge of his own area, but the former Arsenal midfielder chipped over - to the frustration of the well-placed McCarthy.