Ooijer's plea to Holland: Save me for Blackburn Rovers

12:10pm Wednesday 19th November 2008

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ANDRE Ooijer will plead for some Dutch respite tonight after stressing the importance of Sunday’s Premier League basement battle at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Dutch defender has been included in Holland’s squad to face Sweden in Amsterdam but admits he will be asking boss Bert van Marwijk for a lesser role as he looks ahead to Rovers’ weekend trip to White Hart Lane.

Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland leaves Paul Ince’s men lying in the drop zone, just one point and one place above their next opponents, Spurs.

Ooijer revealed Satur-day’s second-half collapse has hurt the entire club and admits things need to change before Rovers find themselves in real trouble.

He said: “It is a team performance and we did not do well, we know that.

“Everyone blames them-selves and the dressing room was very down after the game.

“It is worrying, really worrying, but don’t look at the table. It is a long way to the end of the season and it is all about that.

“It is about being in a European spot then and not about getting relegated.

“The fight is at the end but we have to do better. We need some points quickly.

“I am away with Holland against Sweden on Wedn-esday but I will talk to the manager and hopefully I won’t play all game because Tottenham on Sunday is more important than the international game.

“The season does not end at the weekend. But we have to crack on and be on the winning side.We have to hurry to get out of it or else we have real trouble.

“It has hurt everyone, the manager, the coaching staff, us – everyone.”

Missed chances again proved costly for Rovers in a dominant first half display on Saturday, after a second half collapse, with Ooijer claiming their Jek-yll and Hyde tendencies are becoming too much of a habit.

He said: “That game was unbelievable. If you look back at the game it was like we played two different games, but as long as know that we can do something about it.

“It is not the first game. In a couple of games now we have played well at half time and ended up losing the game.

“It is about time we addressed it and got on with it. It is always a difficult one though. It is not just one person or one position it is a team performance.”

Ooijer was again played at left back on Saturday, with Chris Samba and Zurab Khizanishvili starting in his more customary central role.

The Dutchman insists he is happy to play wherever though and admits it is a case of everyone sticking together through some hard times.

He said: “I can play at left back. Centre half is my best position but if I am needed to play on the left side I will play on the left side.

“That’s just the way it is.”