BLACKBURN'S hopes of qualifying automatically for next season's UEFA Cup have ended after being held by Tottenham.

Benni McCarthy's first-half header looked to have put Rovers on course for a top-seven spot as they dominated at White Hart Lane.

But Jermain Defoe equalised for Spurs midway through the second-half to ensure the Londoners a share of the spoils, before Rovers frontman Jason Roberts was sent-off in the last minute for a second booking.

It means Blackburn's only possible route to the UEFA Cup is through the Intertoto Cup.

Rovers bossed the opening 45 minutes with goalkeeper Brad Friedel untested.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

There seemed little for Spurs fans to cheer about immediately after the break.

After Pedersen had picked up a yellow card for fouling Defoe, Berbatov forced Friedel into a save with the free-kick which fans incorrectly claimed crossed the line as the American claimed at the second attempt.

But Rovers came within inches of doubling their lead when Chris Samba's header from Pedersen's free-kick glanced off the bar to safety.

It proved to be a costly miss as Spurs levelled with 23 minutes left, with their three strikers having a hand in their leveller.

Keane fed Berbatov, who spun on the edge of the area and fired a shot away, Friedel could only parry and Defoe tapped in.

Dawson went wide twice as Spurs chased a winner, while Keane hit the post.

Rovers responded by taking off Mokoena for Matt Derbyshire to give themselves chance of victory but they had to settle for a point.

Their misery was compounded in injury-time when Roberts was dismissed after picking up two quick yellow cards, the first for appearing to clip Didier Zokora and the second for dissent.