Like the opening day of the season Andre Ooijer was the unlikely hero as Rovers came from behind to defeat Tottenham 2-1 at Ewood Park.

The Dutchman fired home from just two yards with just a minute remaining as Sam Allardyce's side claimed a huge three points in their quest for Premier League survival.

After an even opening it was Tottenham who drew first blood in controversial circumstances. Aaron Lennon's centre striking the arm of Gaël Givet who really had no chance to get out of the way of the ball, but Peter Walton pointed directly to the spot.

Robbie Keane made no mistake with the penalty, beating his former team-mate with a low strike into the corner of the goal.

There appeared to be no way back for Rovers but the sending off of Wilson Palacios for two quickfire bookings proved to be the turning point in their favour.

Makeshift striker Chris Samba outmuscled Corluka to tee up Benni McCarthy to equalise, before Ooijer's last-gasp heroics.

Sam Allardyce made just the one change from the side that drew against West Ham United last time out. The Rovers boss choosing to go with Keith Andrews as opposed to Andre Ooijer at right back, the Dutchman dropping to the bench.

For the visitors, Harry Redknapp named an unchanged side, meaning former Rover David Bentley had to settle for a place on the bench.

Rovers set the tone early on with a series of balls into the box testing goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, but the Brazilian, who was much maligned earlier in the season, punched and claimed confidently.

The first chance of the game did go the way of the home side on 11 minutes, McCarthy had been fouled by Jonathan Woodgate but play was allowed to continue, Morten Gamst Pedersen curled over a teasing ball to the back post for the arriving El-Hadji Diouf but the former Senegal international put his header wide of goal.

Tottenham had started slowly but they went close themselves two minutes later a corner from the left was glanced goalwards by Ledley King, but Givet on the Rovers post was able to watch the ball go harmlessly wide.

A deep cross from Diouf on the right looked to come off the arm of Corluka as Pedersen threatened, but despite the appeals from the home supporters in the Blackburn End, play continued and almost resulted in Spurs breaking the deadlock except for the actions of their former goalkeeper.

It was thanks to a quick break from the visitors, the ball switched inside to Palacios who threaded the ball through to Darren Bent, he drove powerfully goalwards but Paul Robinson pulled off a tremendous one-handed save to deny his former team-mate.

As the game ebbed and flowed it was Rovers who pressed the opposition, Harry Redknapp's side happy to soak up pressure and hit on the break. A long throw from Pedersen into the area almost paid dividends as the ball arrived at the feet of Diouf, but somehow Benoit Assou-Ekotto got something in the way to divert the ball wide.

But in the space of three minutes Rovers found themselves first forced into making a chance and then picking the ball out of the back of the net.

A outlandish volley from Morten Gamst Pedersen that went horribly wide probably saw the Norwegian injure his calf in the process, the Rovers wideman unable to continue, his place taken by David Dunn.

But Dunn and his team-mates could do little when Robbie Keane released Aaron Lennon down the right, but as he advanced inside his cross struck the arm of Givet who could do little to get out of the way and Peter Walton pointed to the spot despite the linesman on the near side seeing nothing wrong.

Despite protest from the Rovers players that the ball wasn't on the spot, Spurs' captain Robbie Keane stepped up and narrowly beat Paul Robinson. The Rovers goalkeeper went the right way but Keane's kick was right into the corner of the goal.

The visitors threatened a second as Rovers adjusted to the loss of Pedersen and going a goal behind. Luka Modric and Robbie Keane's combined passing saw the Croatian through on goal but Keith Andrews was alert to nip in and clear the danger.

The bench had their heads in their hands as the half drew to a close, Chris Samba knocked down Gaël Givet's throw to Stephen Warnock but he fired narrowly wide.

Allardyce sprang something of a surprise at the start of the second half but replacing Jason Roberts with Andre Ooijer. With the Dutchman lining up alongside Ryan Nelsen, it saw Chris Samba moved forward to partner Benni McCarthy up front.

It almost paid immediate dividends as Samba was twice involved in two chances early after the restart. An Ooijer forward pass was glanced on by Samba but Gomes claimed. Then from a centre, Samba headed across for El-Hadji Diouf but he fired over from close range.

But despite that bright start to the second half Rovers found themselves more often than not in defensive positions rather than attacking as Tottenham's quick breaks troubled Rovers.

Twice in quick succession balls were hit low in from the right as Jenas and then Lennon teased the Rovers back line, but on both occasions neither Robbie Keane or Darren Bent could capitalise.

But as the game entered the final quarter hour, you really couldn't see a way back for Rovers, but that certainly proved to be the case.

Rovers' best chance of the second half came on 76 minutes after Diouf and Andrews combined on the right, it was Diouf who centred but Benni McCarthy could only put his diving header wide of goal. The South African claimed he was tripped in the process, and replays certainly looked that Corluka made contact.

But the game turned in Rovers' favour in the last ten minutes when Wilson Palacios was sent off for two yellow cards in the space of two minutes. The Tottenham midfielder twice bringing down David Dunn, leaving Peter Walton little option but to send off the Honduran.

With a man advantage Rovers suddenly sensed they could get something from the game, and that was epitomized by the surging run of David Dunn, skipping past two challenges to run into the area to win a corner kick.

From the corner Rovers claimed a handball as the ball appeared to strike Robbie Keane in the area, but as eyes were directed towards the linesman on the nearside the ball was played forward once more and unlikely centre forward Chris Samba outmuscled Vedran Corluka on the edge of the area, spread the ball into the centre where Benni McCarthy made no mistake from ten yards out for his 11th goal of the season.

Boosted by the equaliser, Rovers smelt blood and went in search for what had looked like an unlikely winner. Suddenly it was Rovers playing with confidence and Spurs struggling to cope defensively with the pressure.

Samba saw an overhead kick saved by Gomes, then Stephen Warnock's goalbound effort was acrobatically tipped over after he latched onto Andrews cutback.

But from the resulting corner Rovers weren't to be denied as Diouf's low kick saw the Spurs defenders in sixes and sevens as King and Gomes didn't deal with the ball allowing Andre Ooijer the easiest of goals since his opening day strike against Everton.

And like his strike at Goodison back in August, it proved to be pivotal as Rovers held out a potentially nervy three additional minutes to claim a huge three points.

The win saw Rovers climb up the table, allowing the players the luxury of being able to watch the rest of the games over the weekend knowing they did their jobs.

ROVERS: Robinson, Andrews, Samba, Nelsen (c), Givet, Diouf, Mokoena (sub Tugay 64 mins), Warnock, Pedersen (sub Dunn 26 mins), McCarthy, Roberts (sub Ooijer 46 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Villanueva, Treacy, Olsson.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Lennon (sub Zokora 84 mins), Jenas, Bent, Palacios, Modric, Keane (c), Corluka, King, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate.

Subs not used: Cudicini (GK), Bentley, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Chimbonda.

Booked: Samba (Rovers), Palacios (Tottenham)

Off: Palacios (Tottenham)

Attendance: 21,891