Cole draws blank as Spurs win

Spurs goalscorer Richards overshadowed debutant Cole

Tottenham 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
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A headed goal from Dean Richards on the stroke of half-time was enough to give Tottenham all three points - and take the shine off Andy Cole's Blackburn debut.

Spurs were worthy of their lead after an excellent first-half display.

Spurs sides have sometimes had a soft centre, and we showed today we haven't - after the goal we had to be very resilient

Glen Hoddle

But an otherwise disappointing game will be remembered more for the two glorious opportunities spurned by Cole to pull Blackburn level.

And Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle must have left White Hart Lane feeling more than vindicated in his opinion that the former Manchester United striker needs too many chances to score at this level.

The striker came face to face with Teddy Sheringham, with whom he had formed a productive - if strained - partnership at United as recently as last season.

Mystery

But while Sheringham was at the fore of most attacks on Brad Friedel's goal, Cole had precious little opportunity to make an early impression on the game.

Indeed it was all Spurs in the first half. And how they did not open the scoring until the 45th minute is a mystery.

Sheringham of Spurs tangles with Short

Hoddle's side launched countless forays into the Rovers half, and posed the far larger attacking threat.

The effervescent Sheringham and Steffen Freund both wasted great chances.

Friedel was far busier than his fellow American keeper, Spurs' Kasey Keller, and he made good saves to again deny Freund, Sheringham and Darren Anderton.

Yet he could do nothing to stop Richards' close-range header from an Anderton corner.

Cole registered his first goalward effort in the 41st minute - a tame header from Matt Jansen's mazy run down the right.

Living dangerously

Blackburn began the second half brightly, Keith Gillespie in particular causing the Tottenham defence problems down the right wing.

Rovers should have equalised in the 48th minute after carving out the sort of chance for Cole which should be bread and butter for most Premiership strikers.

It will take a little time but Andy has proved over the last 10 years he is as good as anyone

Graeme Souness
on Andy Cole

Gillespie fired a ball across the face of the goal only for Cole to swing his right leg and completely miss the ball from six yards.

But Tottenham lived dangerously for most of the second period.

Blackburn began to throw more players forward in search of an equaliser and manager Graeme Souness brought on David Dunn for Stig Bjornebye.

Henning Berg went close with a powerful header which he steered too near to Keller.

As Rovers pressed, chances were inevitable at the other end.

And Sheringham had a decent shot from 18 yards which he tried to pass rather than blast into the net.

Cole again went close late on, and a timely intervention by Richards prevented a Craig Hignett goal.

But Spurs withstood a grandstand finish by Blackburn, who took their dismal recent run into the new year.

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Tottenham: Keller, Perry, King, Richards, Taricco, Freund, Anderton, Poyet (Sherwood 85), Ziege, Ferdinand, Sheringham. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Davies, Gardner, Rebrov.

Blackburn: Friedel, Berg, Short, Bjornebye (Dunn 61), Neill, Gillespie (Hignett 71), Tugay, Flitcroft, Duff, Cole, Jansen (Ostenstad 79). Subs Not Used: Kelly, Taylor.

Booked: Neill, Tugay.

Att: 35,131

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)