Blackburn claim local bragging rights over Burnley

Blackburn handed Burnley another dose of derby despair as Rovers came from behind to claim a 3-2 win over their bitter rivals on Sunday.

Sam Allardyce’s side trailed to a spectacular early goal from Robbie Blake at Ewood Park, but the hosts hit back with a three-goal blast before half-time through David Dunn, Franco Di Santo and Pascal Chimbonda.

Chris Eagles got one back for Burnley in stoppage time but it is now 30 years since Blackburn last suffered a defeat against their Lancashire neighbours and Rovers have won six of the last seven meetings.

“First and foremost we did it for ourselves but also for the fans who were magnificent,” Allardyce said.

“It was a wonderful performance and a wonderful result coming from behind.

“It’s a great three points considering it’s a local derby and that our next two fixtures are Manchester United and Chelsea away.”

Burnley boss Owen Coyle added: “I felt we did enough to deserve a draw. The way we started was terrific but we defended poorly after that.

“We’ll take the slap in the face and look to bounce back as quickly as we can but we have shown we are a good side.”

While the Merseyside, Manchester and North London derbies are regarded as the Premier League’s leading blood feuds, this passionate grudge match also embodies the traditional values of English football.

The fixture was given an extra edge this time as it was the old enemies’ first meeting in the top-flight in 43 years.

It was Burnley who got off to a dream start as Blake opened the scoring in stunning style in the fifth minute.

Coyle’s team had failed to score in their previous four away matches, but Blake put an end to that dismal record when he took possession midway inside the Blackburn half, surged forward and arrowed a ferocious strike past Paul Robinson.

The 2,800 Burnley supporters, who had been made to travel the short 16 mile journey to Ewood Park by coach to avoid crowd trouble, went wild but their celebrations were short-lived.

Just four minutes later Blackburn were level and inevitably it was Dunn who silenced the away end.

Dunn is a lifelong Blackburn fan born close to the mill town and his passion for Rovers had spilled over before the match when he delivered some potentially inflammatory pre-match taunts about Burnley.

The midfielder rubbed salt into their wounds in the ninth minute when he seized on Di Santo’s clever flick from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s cross to lash a low drive into the far corner.

Rovers were on top from that moment onwards. Allardyce’s side were soon in front as Di Santo claimed his first goal in English football.

Di Santo, an Argentine striker on loan from Chelsea, profited from woeful Burnley defending in the 21st minute.

Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen started the comedy of errors as he fell after colliding with team-mate Stephen Jordan while trying to reach a cross.

Graham Alexander’s attempt to clear the danger with a header was even worse and Di Santo took advantage to nod into the empty net before earning a booking for his excessive celebrations.

Blackburn extended their lead in the 43rd minute as the visitors crumbled.

Pedersen released Chimbonda on the overlap and the French defender tricked Steven Fletcher with a neat cutback before stroking a clinical shot past Jensen.

Fletcher tried to make amends for his part in Chimbonda’s goal with a curling effort early in the second half, but his shot failed to trouble Robinson.

Eagles came off the bench to reduce the deficit with a close-range finish in the 92nd minute but it was too late to save Burnley’s pride.