JERMAINE Jenas insisted this week that Spurs season will not fizzle out despite Saturday s crushing 2-1 defeat at Blackburn. This time last season Tottenham, under Juande Ramos, won just two of their last nine Premier League games, allowing the season to

JERMAINE Jenas insisted this week that Spurs' season will not fizzle out despite Saturday's crushing 2-1 defeat at Blackburn.

This time last season Tottenham, under Juande Ramos, won just two of their last nine Premier League games, allowing the season to drift away.

But the midfielder feels this season will be different and Spurs fans should take heart from the team's performance at Ewood - they were on top for long periods before conceding two goals in the last eight minutes.

"It was pretty sickening to lose to be honest with you," said Jenas. "We have been playing really well lately and we battled and dominated the whole game.

"In battling terms and football terms we definitely dictated everything so to still lose is a tough pill to swallow."

The Lilywhites seemed to be cruising to a deserved three points following Robbie Keane's first-half penalty. But in a disastrous last 12 minutes man of the match Wilson Palacios was sent off for two fouls on David Dunn and Rovers stole the points with late goals from Benni McCarthy and Andre Ooijer.

Instead, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp must lift his men for a home London derby against in-form West Ham on Saturday.

Indeed, had Spurs held on to their lead they would have have been challenging the Hammers for seventh spot - and a probable Europa League spot next season.

Now Tottenham still need another win to move clear of the 40-point survival benchmark. After West Ham, Redknapp's men have home games against relegation threatened pair Newcastle and West Brom and Mark Hughes's Manchester City.

But Spurs away run-in is not easy - they have three difficult games at title-chasers Manchester United and Liverpool as well as a trip to sixth-placed Everton.

l Aaron Lennon has a double reason to celebrate after winning the PFA Fans' Player of the Month award for March. He also lands the final place in the shortlist of nominees for the PFA Fans' Player of the Year vote.

pat.mooney@hamhigh.co.uk

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