Mark Hughes' men needed a win to stay in the chase for a top-seven finish in the Premiership but their European hopes now rest with a possible Intertoto Cup campaign.

Rovers had looked on course for victory under the driving rain at White Hart Lane when Benni McCarthy headed in just after the half-hour mark.

But Defoe hit back with the equaliser after 67 minutes following an assist by Dimitar Berbatov to leave the final scoreline at 1-1.

Spurs now need a point against Manchester City on Sunday to play in the UEFA Cup again next season.

"We worked hard in the first half and let ourselves down in the second," complained Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen.

"We didn't keep the ball and gave it away too many times. You want to go straight in (UEFA Cup) but we now want to get ready for the last game," added Pedersen ahead of Sunday's clash at home against Reading.

Both sides went into the game with European qualification in their sights, with Rovers needing two wins from their final two games of the season.

Spurs, however, would have secured their place in next season's UEFA Cup with a win, as they needed only two more points.

And after a stale first half hour South African striker McCarthy put the visitors ahead when he headed past Paul Robinson into the far left corner of the net following a magnificent Pedersen pass.

McCarthy missed the chance of a second ten minutes later when his drilled right footer from the centre of the penalty area was blocked by Tottenham skipper Ledley King and a subsequent effort from David Bentley went over the bar.

Spurs were rejuvenated following the arrival of Robbie Keane on the hour mark.

And Blackburn were left rueing a missed chance to convert another thundering Pedersen free kick from the right to the back post two minutes later when Christopher Samba got on the end with his head but hit the bar from close range.

Keane almost snatched victory but hit the post in injury time before Rovers finished the game with ten men after Jason Roberts was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession - the first for a tussle with Didier Zokora and a second for protesting about the decision to referee Rob Styles.