HT: Tottenham 1-0 Blackburn

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe earned his side a half-time lead in their Barclays Premier League clash against Blackburn at White Hart Lane.

Rovers midfielder David Dunn was earlier denied a penalty when he appeared to be tripped by Vedran Corluka, World Cup referee Howard Webb waving play on.

Roman Pavlyuchenko was off target with Spurs' best chances before Defoe tapped home in stoppage time.

Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson had earlier picked up an injury and had to be taken off against his former club.

Defoe returned to the starting XI for the Barclays Premier League clash at White Hart Lane. It meant Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had Peter Crouch on the bench in his only change from the side which earned an FA Cup quarter-final draw against Fulham last time out.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce made three changes from the team which lost to Liverpool a fortnight ago, with David Dunn returning from a calf injury, while Brett Emerton and former Spurs full-back Pascal Chimbonda were drafted in. Junior Hoilett, Keith Andrews and El-Hadji Diouf were on the bench.

Despite one Premier League win away from Ewood Park this season, Blackburn showed attacking intent in the early stages, starting with Dunn's 50-yard box-to-box run that required midfielder Wilson Palacios to track back into his own penalty area.

When Chimbonda skipped past Niko Kranjcar down the left flank, he pulled the ball back to Martin Olsson and Sebastien Bassong blocked the shot.

Spurs' first chance came when Benoit Assou-Ekotto burst into the area and prodded over a cross - but Roman Pavlyuchenko, preferred to Crouch in the starting XI, stabbed his finish into the ground and over. The Russian also fired wide from Bale's cross.

At the other end Dunn felt he could have been awarded a penalty when he carried the ball into the area - Palacios won the ball fairly but Vedran Corluka cut across the midfielder at the same time.

Blackburn were forced into a change after 25 minutes. Paul Robinson, granted a warm welcome from his former club, was helped off after picking up an injury to his left leg, with Jason Brown coming off the bench.

Brown was nearly beaten shortly after when Gareth Bale, who had the beating of Michel Salgado for pace, dashed around the Spanish veteran but fired wide.

Brown then saved at full stretch before the break when Assou-Ekotto's early cross from the left angled towards the bottom corner. He then parried a Defoe effort after Luka Modric sent him through.

But Defoe was on target in stoppage time of the first half. Kranjcar's corner was flicked on by Corluka and Defoe was at the far post to tap home.