Blackburn 3 Burnley 2: OWEN COYLE has revolutionised Burnley inside 23 months, but ridding Turf Moor of its desperate longing for Blackburn Rovers' scalp will have to wait.
It is 30 years and counting since the Clarets last won the east Lancashire derby and defeatism has seeped into the vacuum.
Coyle’s players did display a resolve required at the highest level throughout, but it takes more than an ability to avoid a rout to believe in Premier League security and five consecutive away defeats this season have exposed Burnley’s glaring Achilles’.
“Over the balance of the game I don’t think there is any doubt we contributed enough to get something out of the game,” said Coyle.
Blackburn were utterly dominant as they sauntered off at the interval, the first top-flight derby between the teams since 1966 merely highlighting the gulf in Premier League experience and investment of recent years.
Rovers were 3-1 ahead, Franco Di Santo and David Dunn forming a vibrant, potent partnership for Sam Allardyce’s team, and Burnley were flattered. That the visitors showed resilience in the second half, and missed a few half-chances before Chris Eagles ensured a nervous finale was the only consolation they had.
Allardyce is 55 today and his analysis was, in keeping with the performance, more precise than his opposite number. Rovers cavorted en masse on the final whistle, but had they blown this victory through over-elaboration they would have been lined up against the wall.
“We won and that’s all that matters,” said the Rovers manager. “Yes, it should have been more comfortable, but we only had to panic twice, once when Robbie Elliott (sic) scored in the first five minutes and in the last two minutes after they had scored.”
It was Robbie Blake, of course, to whom Allardyce was referring. Wade Elliott fed Blake, then dragged two Blackburn defenders away with an intelligent run that enabled the veteran to step inside onto his favoured right foot. A venomous shot beyond Paul Robinson from 20 yards sent the travelling hordes delirious.
Rovers were level four minutes later. Dunn stroked into Brian Jensen’s far corner after Di Santo had cushioned Morten Gamst Pedersen’s cross into his path.
A calamitous mix-up gifted Di Santos his first Blackburn goal and the victory rarely appeared in doubt afterwards.
Blackburn’s third came after Keith Andrews sprayed a pass out to Pedersen who headed the ball into the path of a lung-busting run from Pascal Chimbonda. With a step inside Steven Fletcher, the left-back found himself free in the area and converted expertly.
Eagles tapped in Stephen Jordan’s cross but there was no time for a miracle.
Guardian Service
