Football News

Tottenham's pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League this season steps up with the visit of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime.

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With ten games remaining the advantage is with Harry Redknapp's side in the race for Champions League qualification as they are in control their own destiny and are now one of the 188BET favourites to finish in the top four.

One defeat in their last 12 league games means that confidence is high at White Hart Lane heading into this weekend.

Liverpool's surprise defeat at Wigan on Monday night left the north London club sitting pretty in fourth spot and with one game in hand on their Merseyside rivals.

However, Manchester City and Aston Villa cannot be discounted and Redknapp knows that home games against mid-table sides like Rovers are must-win occasions.

Jermain Defoe missed last weekend's FA Cup sixth-round goalless draw against Fulham with a minor hamstring strain but is expected to return in place of Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Peter Crouch should keep his place and has fond memories of Blackburn after scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at Ewood Park in December.

However, it is in further back where Spurs are stretched as Ledley King (thigh), Jonathan Woodgate (groin), Tom Huddlestone (ankle), David Bentley, Jermain Jenas and Aaron Lennon (all groin) are all still unavailable.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has set his sights on a top-ten finish following an upturn in fortunes for Rovers of late.

Back-to-back victories over Hull and Bolton before a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on their last outing has seen the Lancashire club soar up to 12th place in the table on the 34-point mark.

They are now just one win away from virtually guaranteeing themselves top-flight football for next season and Allardyce is hoping his players can kick on after being freed from their shackles.

David Dunn, Brett Emerton, Franco Di Santo, Junior Hoilett and Yildiray Basturk all played for the reserves in midweek and Dunn in particular is pushing for a recall following injury.

Australian midfielder Vince Grella is back in the treatment room and will miss out alongside injured skipper Ryan Nelsen (knee).