Wonder goal and red card for Tugay

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BLACKBURN, England -- Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tugay scored a contender for goal of the season but was later sent off in a bad-tempered 1-1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.

In the 23rd minute Gray caused panic in the Tottenham defense with a deep cross that Morten Gamst Pedersen flicked on and, when Ledley King's headed clearance dropped to Tugay some 25 meters out, the midfielder lashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner past Paul Robinson.

But after 63 minutes, after Spurs' South Korean defender Lee Young-Pyo sent a long pass over the Blackburn defense, Tugay's despairing lunge sent Hossam Ghaly crashing in the penalty area.

After a protracted discussion with his assistant, referee Phil Dowd showed Tugay the red card before before Jermain Defoe fired the spot-kick low into the corner.

Ghaly was himself sent off in injury time for an elbow on Gray and in the furore that followed, Tottenham coach Martin Jol was sent from the dugout.

Tottenham had survived a strong penalty appeal when their striker Mido appeared to control a cross with his arm and Rovers coach Mark Hughes said: " I'm incensed by both decisions - to give the penalty and send Tugay off and then not to give a penalty against Mido.

"Tugay's was a genuine attempt to get the ball and Mido has clearly handled the ball - and he admitted as much afterwards.

"That is three or four times that referees have not done their job for us and it is costing us because, had we been playing on an even wicket, I think we would have won comfortably."

Jol said: "It was an emotional game but I think the referee was emotional at the end, because I wasn't.

"I wanted to protect my player (Ghaly) and I told the referee he was totally wrong, so he sent me into the stands.

" It was all a bit ridiculous and I hope he rethinks both mine and Ghaly's red card.

"As for the game it was always going to be tough and we did not make the most of the extra man, so that was the most disappointing thing."

Despite being a man down, Rovers came closest to a winner when striker Benni McCarthy's instinctive backheeled volley brought a fine save out of Robinson.

Blackburn stay 15th, just three points above the relegation zone, while Tottenham are joint 12th.

Smart Sorensen

Injury-hit Villa were indebted to some smart goalkeeping from Thomas Sorensen as they ended Wigan's run of four successive league wins.

With just a minute on the clock Sorensen somehow kept out a fierce close-range header from Lee McCulloch.

Villa did almost take the lead with their first real attack, however, when Peter Whittingham's right-foot volley hit the post after 13 minutes.

Henri Camara blazed wastefully wide for Wigan in the first half when through on goal and shortly after the break Villa had a big let-off when defender Isaiah Osbourne dived to intercept a cross but headed the ball against his own post.

"They were miles better than us in the first half, but after half-time we came into it more and looked more dangerous," Villa manager Martin O'Neill told Sky Sports.

Villa stay fifth with 22 points while Wigan move above Liverpool into ninth.

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