RYAN Nelsen has described Rovers’ Premier League plummet as “excruciatingly frustrating”, insisting performances have warranted more reward.

The Blackburn skipper was insistent his side deserved something from yesterday’s 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane, after playing with 10 men for more than 50 minutes, as they slid to second from bottom of the Premier League.

Rovers are now without a win in eight league games, as only West Brom sit below them, but Nelsen has urged everyone to keep faith with the Ewood outfit.

He said: “I would say we deserved something from the game because when you work that hard for so long with 10 men, I think you do.

“We had a couple of really good chances but it is just not falling for us at the moment. One mistake and they score. But when we get chances, we are not putting them away.

“It is so frustrating. If we were playing badly or the spirit was not there or we had given up, I would be extremely concerned.

“But it is there. The guys are working hard. We are so close and it is so excruciatingly frustrating that it is not falling our way at the moment.

“I think it was a game where the first goal was going to win. It felt comfortable for us, even with 10 men, that was the frustrating thing.”

The New Zealander has added his backing to young Swedish full back Martin Olsson, as his mistake for Spurs’ winner and his sending off cost the visitors dear.

“I think the first booking was a bit harsh,” said Nelsen. “I said to Howard Webb to be careful with him because it was a tough yellow. But he saw fit to give him another yellow and a red soon after.

“We all have been there and done it. It is just unfortunate at this level that you get punished.

“I think he was too keen to make amends for his early mistake. He wanted to get a tackle in, put his influence on the game and he got it wrong.

“The poor guy is distraught. He does not need reminding or telling off. He knows. He will become a better player because of it. I don’t think he will be doing that again.”

England winger Aaron Lennon was Rovers’ chief tormentor on Sunday, running Olsson ragged, with boss Paul Ince pointing to his pace as a vital Premier League component.

Ince said: “He is a good player, he is quick and you have to have pace. If you are quick you will always cause problems. I think Simmo (Danny Simpson) dealt with him better second half.

“The lads are devastated because they know they have played so well. They have battled and everyone of them has run their socks off. That is what it takes. We will be okay.

“You know the way Tottenham play. You have to stay tight and hope in the last few minutes you nick something, which we nearly did.

“They did not cause us many problems in the second half and that is the positives we have to take.”

Nelsen and Ince both recognise the importance of next Sunday’s trip to Portsmouth, with both determined to put their winless run to bed once and for all.

Ince said: “We have Benni (McCarthy) back, we have Brett (Emerton) back and we will have Stevie (Warnock) back next week.

“The more you lose, the harder it becomes to get that win.

“But when you are playing well you always have a chance of getting that win.”