A last-minute winner by Jamie Redknapp exacted perfect revenge for Spurs' Worthington Cup Final defeat last season.
Redknapp was not even a Tottenham player that day but he arrived on the end of Steffen Iversen's cross to bundle a scuffed volley past Brad Friedel and seal the three points.
It was the second time they had taken the lead in the match, Robbie Keane having opened his account after just six minutes, only for his effort to be cancelled out by Egil Ostenstad.
The result was tough luck on Rovers who had been the better side in the second half and would have felt they deserved to secure the victory.
Blackburn boss Graeme Souness said afterwards: "I think we certainly did enough to win the game, especially in the second half but that's football."
Keane's early goal was a stylish way to start his goalscoring for Tottenham.
Receiving the ball midway inside the Blackburn half he advanced to the edge of the area before ramming a left-footed shot into the top corner of Friedel's net.
The first half was of a poor standard but it improved after the break due to a double substitution by Souness.
Spurs were on the back foot and after David Thompson twice went close Blackburn deservedly levelled. Substitute Ostenstad latched onto David Dunn's throughball and lifted his shot over Kasey Keller.
Friedel saved well from Redknapp and Keane at one end and Damien Duff missed a gilt-edged chance to win the match when he headed wide at the back post following Keith Gillespie's inch-perfect cross.
Thompson had a tap-in ruled out for offside at one end before Redknapp's late, late goal sealed an unlikely win