Supersub Keane delivers for Spurs as they close in UEFA Cup spot

The Egyptian hurled away his shirt in disgust under Jol's nose as he was substituted by Robbie Keane on the hour, the player having himself come off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Steed Malbranque.

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Hopefully, Ghaly is feeling suitably repentant, earning the jeers of the fans, after Keane inspired Tottenham's comeback following Benni McCarthy's opener for Blackburn Rovers.

The game was supposed to be the battle of this season's best foreign imports, Dimitar Berbatov versus McCarthy. But it was Keane who stole the show with his late entrance, starting the move that led to Jermain Defoe's precious equaliser.

Jol was diplomatic about Ghaly's behaviour but left him in no doubt that his decision was correct.

He said: "The fans are entitled to do what they did. It was out of character. You can't say that he did well today but I make the decisions. I didn't have a second thought. When I decide to take him off, I take him off. I was right in hindsight because we played better. We have got certain rules, whether it is Dimitar or Keane. We will deal with it internally."

Hailing Keane and the rest of his team's contribution, Jol added: "I felt that when Robbie Keane came on, he was one of the first players to play the ball forward and support. It was a risk but that's what we wanted and he played so well.

"I would be a very happy man if we finish in the top six. Results have suffered because we played in all the cups but if we finish in the top six, we will have had a fine season."

The draw means Tottenham need one more point against Manchester City to ensure qualification for next season's UEFA Cup, while Blackburn can only cling to hopes of an InterToto Cup spot if they are to make Europe for the second successive season.

A dodgy lasagne may have seen Spurs come a cropper on the final day of last season, losing out to Arsenal for the fourth Champions League spot.

Their exploits in the FA Cup, Carling Cup and UEFA Cup this season had hampered Tottenham's chances of a repeat fifth-placed finish this season — although it now remains a possibility if they better Everton's result on Sunday.

Jol made just three changes from the side that ended Charlton's seven-year stay in the top flight on Monday with Defoe preferred to Keane, fit-again Anthony Gardner drafted in for the injured Ricardo Rocha and Malbranque replacing Jermaine Jenas, who was not risked after picking up a back problem.

Unsurprisingly, Hughes named an unchanged side from the one that beat Newcastle on Saturday.

Fortunately, the managers' selections gave fans the opportunity to assess the relative merits of Berbatov and McCarthy.

Both strikers came into the clash on 22 goals. Only Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Jurgen Klinsmann have scored more goals in the Premiership in their debut seasons after arriving from foreign climes.

Hughes insisted in the build-up to the game that he had the better player largely because of the difference in price tag — McCarthy costing just £2.5million compared to £10.9m for Berbatov.

In the early exchanges neither player lived up to their billing, with Berbatov perhaps just shading it courtesy of his link-up play. But McCarthy redressed the balance on 32 minutes in fine style, crashing in a header from Morten Gamst Pedersen's inviting cross.

The goal had the desired effect on Blackburn as they began to push forward with purpose, helped by Spurs handing possession back to their opponents far too easily.

Urged on by a dissatisfied White Hart Lane crowd, and presumably a half-time blast by Jol, Spurs began to carry more of a threat after the restart.

But it was not until the introduction of Keane after 61 minutes that Tottenham found the necessary penetration to put the visitors on the back foot.

Ironically, Spurs got themselves on level terms moments after Christopher Samba had rattled Paul Robinson's crossbar with a header. Keane picked out Berbatov in the box and the Bulgarian spun his marker. His shot was too hot for Friedel to handle, with the rebound falling invitingly for Defoe to turn in from close range on 67 minutes.

Keane was then unlucky to see his stoppage-time strike cannon off the bottom of the post, while there was still enough time for referee Rob Styles to dismiss Jason Roberts for two bookable offences, the first for a trip on Didier Zokora and the second for delaying the resulting free kick.

Hughes admitted his dismay at Roberts' sending-off but is only too happy to still have a route to Europe. He said: "Maybe the referee should try to see the bigger picture. I just thought the sending-off was completely unnecessary. Jason is adamant he did not swear at the referee.

"I thought we were good value for the lead, Tottenham came back well. The goal came at the wrong time for us and after it they got quite a lot of momentum. The Inter- Toto is still open to us. We have applied for it and if that is the route we have to take, we will gladly."

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Gardner; Lennon, Zokora, Tainio, Malbranque (Ghaly 29min (Keane 61)); Berbatov, Defoe.

Scorer: Defoe 67.

BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Friedel; Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock; Bentley, Tugay (Gallagher 90), Mokoena (Derbyshire 76), Pedersen; McCarthy, Roberts.

Booked: Mokoena, Pedersen, Roberts.

Sent off: Roberts. Scorer: McCarthy 32.

Man of the match: Robbie Keane.

Referee: Rob Styles.