Blackburn Rovers 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Peter White's big match verdict

FOR the benefit of Blackburn Rovers' administrative staff you can call 08457-222333 and, a word of advice. The earlier you book the more you save.

The number is Virgin's West Coast train-ticket booking service and I suggest Rovers officials order their London Euston returns now, in anticipation of a trip to Football Association headquarters at the end of the season to try to explain away what could well be the worst disciplinary record in the Premiership.

After a day when results, among other things, went badly it is only to be hoped Rovers do not have another capital call to make, registering at the Nationwide League offices. For they remain in grave danger and it is not all their own doing.

Are referees - and linesmen - really this bad? Or am I just becoming paranoid?

Before anyone jumps the gun, the finger of guilt is not being pointed at Neale Barry just for showing the eighth red card of the season to a Rovers player, Jason Wilcox in this case.

Though another referee might easily have shown yellow, especially if he had not been under pressure from Spurs players indulging - not for the first time - in that despicable practice of trying to get their fellow union members into card trouble.

But this official is accused of causing many of the problems, not least through his unbelievable failure to disallow Tottenham's equaliser for an obvious foul on Rovers keeper John Filan. And was it mere co-incidence that Wilcox had been one of the chief protestors moments earlier when Steffen Iversen's goal was allowed to stand?

Instead of discussing officials, we should be talking about a lively debut for Jason McAteer, a wonderful goal for Matt Jansen on his first Rovers appearance and a game which was building up to a superb climax.

But we aren't.

It was the third home game in succession that Rovers have had a man sent off. Yet, remarkably, they once again finished with some reward and if the referee's standards had been consistent at least two Spurs players could have gone for two yellows.

Rovers had every reason to be disgruntled.

A treat had been promised as both teams began with an open style that promised goals. Rovers, with a front six who were all fully-committed attacking players, had little choice, while Spurs took advantage in the first half of Ewood absentees to run at defenders.

It could so easily have been 3-2 to the visitors just after the quarter-hour mark.

David Dunn and Ashley Ward were desperately unlucky and Wilcox brought another save from Ian Walker in the first six minutes.

But then Spurs took control in an attacking sense and exploited the fact that Rovers did not have a natural defensive midfield player available.

They began to cause real problems and had three glorious opportunities through Les Ferdinand, Ramon Vega and Steffen Iversen which were all spurned.

Tottenham looked the stronger side but the game turned around two minutes before the interval, thanks to a moment of sheer genius from debut boy Jansen. Collecting a loose ball with his back to goal, tightly marked a few yards outside the Spurs penalty area, he looked to be going nowhere.

That must have been what his marker Sol Campbell thought too but Jansen flicked the ball up, turned and struck a 20-yard left-foot volley past a disbelieving goalkeeper, who was so surprised he didn't move.

It suggested an exhilerating second half and McAteer had the fans on their feet with a superb run and cross before Ashley Ward went close from the resulting corner. Yet Filan also had to be alert as Spurs continued to prove a threat. In a few minutes of madness, however, the game as a spectacle was finished and Rovers were left once again to hold on to what they had with 10 men.

On the hour, Filan went to collect a right-wing cross and was blatantly fouled by Ferdinand who jumped straight into him. We waited for the whistle but it didn't come.

Campbell's attempt to score from the loose ball was brilliantly parried, one-handed, by the keeper but the ball went straight to the head of Iversen and in. Rovers were incensed, Ward being booked for his complaints and, within a minute of the goal, Wilcox lost his rag.

He lunged into a tackle on Allan Nielsen and was sent off. The referee, right on the spot, had no doubts but he had already damaged Rovers' cause with his decision moments earlier.

By now, Rovers are well drilled in these situations. They made changes to adjust and, really, held out fairly comfortably.

But another game had ended in uproar.

Rovers supporters have been angered and frustrated by officials on many occasions this season.

But the verdict which tumbled down from the stands on this man was the most damning so far - and it was understandable.

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