Tottenham 3 Blackburn 2: Robbie Keane celebrated the end of a perfect week by firing a two-goal salvo as Tottenham edged Blackburn in a pulsating clash at White Hart Lane.

The 25-year-old marksman was unveiled as the new Republic of Ireland skipper in midweek and he followed the good news up by signing a new four-year contract with Spurs on Friday.

His first strike was a magnificent solo effort which he created out of nothing and finished with ruthless ease, while he displayed his predatory instincts for number two.

Controversy shrouded both goals with Blackburn claiming they should have had the throw-in which preceded the opener and replays suggested Keane handled the ball before hitting the second.

But given the week he was having, it came as little surprise when fortune favoured him, and his finishing justified his inclusion in the starting line-up ahead of Jermain Defoe.

Keane was deployed alongside Mido, who is hoping to agree a new contract himself at White Hart Lane with his spell on loan from Roma set to expire in the summer. The Egyptian striker did his cause no harm by scoring the 70th-minute winner in a result which strengthens Spurs’ grip on fourth place in the Premiership.

Martin Jol’s side had to battle hard for victory and defeat was tough on Blackburn, who arrived in north London on the back of four successive defeats but looked anything but a team having trouble on the road.

They controlled the match for long spells with strikes from Florent Sinama Pongolle and Craig Bellamy pegging back a 2-0 deficit, but Mido pounced to snatch the points.

It was Blackburn who created the opening chance when Brett Emerton, back after missing out against Sunderland and Arsenal, crossed only for Bellamy to direct his header straight into the arms of Paul Robinson.

Bellamy’s weak effort had been the only meaningful action from a dull opening but a piece of individual brilliance from Keane lit up the match in the ninth minute. Keane, with limited space to work in, picked up a throw-in from Mido close to the byline and some sublime footwork swept him past Robbie Savage and Andy Todd and into a scoring position.

From six yards out he still had Brad Friedel to beat but he managed to stab his shot past the outstretched arms of the American. Savage bundled out a dangerous cross from Mido after Michael Carrick had released the Egyptian hitman and Friedel nervously cleared again after 25 minutes.

Blackburn - three points and one place adrift of Spurs in the Premiership - were behind on the scoreboard but were competing on level terms on the pitch and should have equalised in the 33rd minute.

Bentley concluded a marauding run with an accurate cross to the far post where Emerton was able to head back across goal but Sinama Pongolle missed the ball completely from two yards out. Rovers were left to rue the missed chance as in the 42nd minute Spurs doubled their lead with Keane this time showing his predatory instincts.

A handball by Emerton inches outside the area saw Mido step up and take a free-kick which he curled around the wall and towards the bottom right corner. Friedel brilliantly saved the effort but the ball fell into the path of Keane who took one step forward before prodding home.

Blackburn reduced the deficit two minutes before half-time, however, when Bellamy finished a superb run - initiated by Emerton - with a perfect cross to Sinama Pongolle who was on target with his diving header.

Blackburn looked well capable of grabbing an equaliser with Spurs coming under heavy pressure in the 55th minute. An unmarked Emerton glanced a Steven Reid corner wide when he should have done better and Spurs were unable to break from their own half for several minutes. Edgar Davids was replaced by Aaron Lennon in the 60th minute and did not look particularly happy with Martin Jol’s decision as he stalked into the dug-out.

Only Robinson’s stunning reflexes denied Bentley, who saw his screaming 30-yard shot tipped over the crossbar by the England goalkeeper. Blackburn struck a deserved equaliser in the 68th minute when an attempted clearance by Ledley King fell to Sinama Pongolle, who squared the ball to the onrushing Bellamy and the Welshman finished clinically.

But there was a fresh twist just two minutes later when Spurs regained the lead, Lennon making ground down the right before slipping the ball through a static defence to Mido, who made no mistake. Jermaine Jenas went close with a free-kick which took a deflection off the wall and then found the side-netting as Spurs enjoyed a purple patch.

But Blackburn’s determination to notch the equaliser meant they could never relax and Spurs fans were forced to endure a nail-biting finish before the final whistle sounded.