A controversial penalty gave Tottenham the first half lead at Ewood Park as Rovers struggled to impose themselves.

Referee Mr Walton awarded the spot kick after Aaron Lennon's weak right wing cross had struck Gael Givet on the arm in the area.

Keane, who was allowed to take the kick with the ball not even on the spot, calmly slotted the ball past Paul Robinson for the opener on 29 minutes.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce was left fuming with Mr Walton as his side trailed 1-0 at the break.

Rovers had the first real chance of the game and should have scored when Morten Gamst Pedersen's deep cross picked out the unmarked El Hadji Diouf.

The Senegal international beat Benoit Assou-Ekotto to the ball but could only head the ball wide from close range on 10 minutes.

Spurs soon hit back though, with Luka Modric having a shot charged down by Stephen Warnock and Ledley King seeing a header flash across the face of goal.

Former Spurs favourite Paul Robinson then kept the scores level on 18, brilliantly palming Darren Bent's low strike wide, after Wilson Palacios' through ball.

Diouf thought he had struck the first blow for the hosts a couple of minutes later but his shot, from Pedersen's long throw, was blocked by Assou-Ekotto.

Pedersen' was then forced off through injury, with crowd favourite David Dunn a surprise replacement as he bids to play through his Achilles pain.