By Martyn Herman

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tugay scored a contender for goal of the season and was then sent off in a bad-tempered 1-1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Turkish ace sent a fizzing 25-metre volley past Spurs keeper Paul Robinson to give Rovers the lead after 23 minutes but blotted his copybook on the hour when he clipped Hossam Ghaly to concede a penalty that Jermain Defoe tucked away. Ghaly also received a red card in stoppage time for an elbow on defender Michael Gray.

In the day's other action, Aston Villa missed out on third spot despite escaping with a fortunate 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic. It was Wigan's first goalless draw in the top flight. "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.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes said of Tugay’s foul on Egyptian Ghaly: "He made an honest attempt to get the ball. Our players went to the linesman to get the penalty decision overturned, instead of that Tugay gets sent off. If the referee is honest with himself, he'll say he had a shocker."

Blackburn stay 15th, just three points above the relegation zone, while Tottenham, whose manager Martin Jol was also sent from the dugout after arguing about Ghaly's dismissal, are joint 12th.