Tottenham defeated a ten-man Blackburn Rovers 1-0 in their Premier League match at White Hart Lane.

In a match that started out at a furious pace with both teams known for conceding goals it was no surprise when Spurs opened their account after just nine minutes.

The tireless Aaron Lennon tore off down the right cutting in to cross to Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko who hooked it in from ten yards out.

In the 39th minute Martin Olsson received a second yellow card for constantly fouling the sparkling Lennon, leaving Rovers to struggle on with just ten men.

Moments before half time referee Howard Webb made a controversial decision when he gave David Bentley a yellow card for diving after he was clearly fouled by Christopher Samba.

In the 56th minute Ander Ooijer made a brilliant save as Darren Bent got into a good position and was about to fire in Tottenham's second before the Dutchman slid in to make the save.

After a period in which it was all Tottenham, Rovers recovered enough to put together an attack in the 73rd minute. Ryan Nelsen drifted a long ball in for Roque Santa Cruz, who controlled it before watching Pedersen snuff it past the far post.

Keith Andrews and Jermaine Jenas were involved in a heated exchange when they got tangled up in a tackle, and Andrews refused to let go. Referee Webb was just a yard away and got between the players but truculent behaviour from both saw each of them pick up a yellow card.

The result sees 19th placed Spurs up to 15th on the Premier League table, while Rovers drop one place to 19th.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone, Lennon, Pavlyuchenko, Bent. Subs: Cesar, Bale, Zokora, Gunter, Campbell, Dawson, O'Hara.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Andrews, Mokoena, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz. Subs: Brown, Kerimoglu, Simpson, Fowler, Judge, Derbyshire, Roberts.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone, Lennon, Pavlyuchenko, Bent. Subs: Cesar, Bale, Zokora, Gunter, Campbell, Dawson, O'Hara.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton, Andrews, Mokoena, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz. Subs: Brown, Kerimoglu, Simpson, Fowler, Judge, Derbyshire, Roberts.