Blackburn 3 Burnley 2:Sam Allardyce saw his Blackburn side claim the local bragging rights over Burnley in the first top-flight meeting of the clubs for 43 years. It was a comfortable victory as well after an early scare when Robbie Blake made the breakthrough for Burnley after five minutes.
However the home side effectively sealed the points before half-time thanks to goals from David Dunn, Franco di Santo and Pascal Chimbonda.
Substitute Chris Eagles scored a second for Burnley in stoppage time but they have now lost five successive games on the road in the Premier League this season.
Burnley got off to the best possible start when Blake scored after Chris Samba had cleared the crossbar for the home side.
Blake picked up the ball just beyond the halfway line and raced forward as Blackburn backed off. He took advantage of the space on offer to deliver a thunderous strike from 25 yards beyond Paul Robinson that flew into the corner.
It was reminiscent of his goal against Manchester United earlier in the campaign and gave Burnley the boost they were looking for.
The Clarets’ lead was short-lived however as Blackburn equalised in the ninth minute following a flowing move. Morten Gamst Pedersen crossed the ball into the area and a clever flick by Di Santo released Dunn and he scored from close range.
Blackburn went ahead in the 22nd minute when Di Santo took advantage of Graham Alexander’s misplaced clearance although there was a question mark over whether goalkeeper Brian Jensen was impeded one of his own players.
Blackburn extended their lead in the 43rd minute with a splendid goal that cut the visitors apart. Keith Andrews picked out Pedersen on the left and he released Chimbonda on the overlap.
The former Tottenham full-back got away from Steven Fletcher and cut into the area before finding the corner with his effort.
Former Manchester United man Eagles pulled a goal back in stoppage time, scoring from close range following a cross from Stephen Jordan.
Jensen was booked in the final moments after racing from his area and flooring substitute Jason Roberts as he attempted to get clear.
