KEANE
LONDON, England (Reuters):
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR edged closer to Champions League football after Egyptian striker Mido scored their winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane yesterday.
Irish striker Robbie Keane scored twice before Florent Sinama-Pongolle hauled Blackburn back into the game just before the break and Craig Bellamy drove in a 67th minute equaliser.
Mido's winner restored Tottenham's five-point lead over fifth-place arch rivals Arsenal in the race to finish fourth - and claim a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
Manchester City punished bottom club Sunderland for some woeful defending, with Greek striker Georgios Samaras scoring twice inside the first 10 minutes for a 2-1 home win.
The battle for the Champions League has become the main focus of interest in the English top-flight as Chelsea cruise towards a second consecutive league title.
A 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday left Chelsea on 72 points - 17 points clear of second-place Liverpool, who were held 0-0 by Charlton Athletic.
Manchester United, who have two games in hand before facing Wigan Athletic today, are third on 54 points. Spurs have 49 while Arsenal, who crushed Fulham 4-0, have 44.
SPURS WAY
A number of decisions went Spurs' way yesterday, to the disappointment of Blackburn manager Mark Hughes.
Mido appeared to put the ball out for the throw-in which led to Keane's first goal. His second goal followed a rebound which hit his arm and a clear handball by Spurs defender Paul Stalteri in the penalty area went unpunished.
Asked about the officials' decisions, Hughes told reporters: "You hope they will get them right. Unfortunately today, a number of decisions affected the result ... Mido touched the ball three times before it went out, and the second goal was a handball by Robbie Keane.
"We're scratching our heads, we can't really believe we've lost that game. They (Spurs) would agree they've been fortunate. We've got nothing from a great performance."
Spurs boss Martin Jol told Sky Sports: "In the second half they took the game to us and I think they looked terrific. But we scored too and in the end I think we were a bit fortunate because maybe we should have had a penalty against us.
"But on the other hand, there was a handball by (Blackburn's Ryan) Nelsen as well. I can imagine Mark is feeling unhappy tonight but games like this happen all the time."
GIFTED GOALS
Manchester City were gifted the early goals against a Sunderland side who made amends with a Kevin Kyle goal after 25 minutes and a spirited second-half performance.
City manager Stuart Pearce told Sky Sports: "Our lads have got their heads down in the dressing room because they're disappointed with the way we played.
"But I've told them that sometimes you've just got to take results like that. We've won a game in the Premiership and that's never easy."
Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy, whose captain Gary Breen was sent off in the 85th minute, said: "It's not been good enough all season long. I can't defend the way we defended for the first two goals. It was awful."
