Richmond Spurs: Match Report 10/28/07

Courtesy of Official Site-

Robbie Keane made it 23 goals in his last 30 games but the spoils went to
Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon.
Keane's second half
penalty put us in pole position to secure a first Premier League win since
August, but a deflected strike from Benni McCarthy and a late one from
Christopher Samba dashed such hopes.Before we were ready to usher in a new era
at the Club there was the matter of a contest to deal with against in-form
Blackburn under the leadership of Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe. The Lane was
packed to the rafters - the Spurs areas, at least - as very-soon-to-be Head
Coach Juande Ramos stepped out into the Directors' Box to soak up the atmosphere
in his new environment. He will get to work on Monday morning, there were three
points to be fought for before that time. Clive did not make too many
alterations, Michael Dawson returned in place of the injured Anthony Gardner,
while Robbie Keane was back in the fold instead of Jermain Defoe. First up
though, Dawson did the honours when it came to receiving our cheque for winning
last season's Fair Play League, while the team warmed up for the game sporting
Kick it Out T-shirts bearing the message 'One Game, One Community' in support of
the week of action. There was a lively enough beginning to the encounter without
too much being carved out in the way of chances. Dimitar Berbatov took a little
too long when presented with a shooting chance from the edge of the area, with
David Bentley a bit wide with his angled effort at the Park Lane end. Just
before the 20 minute mark a Tom Huddlestone free-kick presented itself to Dawson
around eight yards out, the defender not letting it bounce, but not making a
decent enough connection to trouble Brad Friedel. Berbatov the Steed MNalbranque
then combined to set a darting Aaron Lennon through on goal and it took an
advancing Friedel to deny him a first of the season. Friedel was exercised again
when the flight of a deep ball from Lee Young-Pyo caught the visiting defenders
out and a Keane header forced the goalkeeper into tipping over the bar. Rovers
were in retreat for a good spell leading up to the half-hour mark, Berbatov shot
into the side netting, Robbie Savage went off injured and no further clear cut
openings were carved out before the break. The picture changed almost straight
after the interval when Keane sent Lennon scurrying into the area where he was
chopped down by Stephen Warnock. Referee Mr Styles pointed to the spot and Keane
struck his kick high past Friedel on 47 minutes. Friedel did brilliantly in
stopping the advantage being doubled when he shovelled away a Lee blast at his
near post after the full-back had been slotted through by Berbatov. The plot
took a twist just before the hour when Bentley picked out Benni McCarthy just
outside the area and the South African turned and dispatched a shot that flew up
off the lunging Dawson and looped into the top corner and in off the inside of
the crossbar. Cruel. Berbatov should have regained the lead with a header in
front of goal from Keane's cross, but did not generate enough power or direction
and Friedel was able to save. Lennon was thrilling yet frustrating with his
final ball as the team wrestled the initiative back from Blackburn after the
leveller. Keane was just beaten to the punch by Friedel when played in by
Huddlestone before change was made with Darren Bent replacing Malbranque. The
next incident was a horrible challenge by Morten Gamst Pederson on Dawson as the
defender was attempting to apply a thumping clearance.There were a few nerves
around the ground as both teams were cautiously seeking the win as we entered
the final moments, strikers were coming on, but neither side was going to gamble
on too big a number ahead of the ball.The bolt from the blue came in stoppage
time when the ball was not cleared efficiently and Samba struck a curling effort
from the edge of the area beyond Radek Cerny to silence the Lane.