Flemming heads winner as Burnley beat rivals Blackburn

Burnley got the better of East Lancashire rivals Blackburn by winning the derby 1-0 at Ewood Park.

In a game of few chances, the telling moment came in the 60th minute with the clash’s first effort on target through Zian Flemming’s diving header in front of a raucous cohort of 3,926 travelling fans.

Before and after the goal Scott Parker relied on his team’s miserly defence to keep Blackburn at bay, which they did admirably. Despite a barrage of set-pieces, Blackburn could not breach a defence that has conceded just five times on the road.

The best chance fell to Lewis Baker 13 minutes from time, but he glanced a header behind.

It gives Burnley a fourth successive victory at Ewood Park, where they secured the league title on their last visit, and performances like this will be crucial if they are to repeat that success at the end of the season.

While they are 13 unbeaten, Rovers are winless in five and remain outside the play-off places.

Chances were unsurprisingly few and far between given Burnley’s record at both ends of the pitch and Rovers’ ability to stifle teams at the top. Jaidon Anthony’s early shot was blocked while Blackburn peppered their opposition with a series of corners but the Clarets held firm.

The lively Amario Cozier-Duberry always looked dangerous going forward and cut inside onto his right foot in the 37th minute but his effort was deflected just wide.

Makhtar Gueye, who was sent off in the reverse fixture, directed a looping header wide just before the break.

The second half began in a similar pattern to the first but the first moment of real quality on the hour produced the opener for Burnley. A right-wing cross from Anthony found its way to Bashir Humphreys on the left who crossed with pinpoint accuracy for Flemming to stoop and head into the roof of the net for his fourth of the season.

That strike opened the game up and Blackburn continued to bombard the Burnley goal and an almighty goalmouth scramble following a deep corner was gathered by James Trafford before a Rovers player could get a touch.

They continued to press and Sondre Tronstad had a sight of goal 16 minutes from the end, but it was deflected wide and Burnley dealt with the corner.

At the other end, Anthony’s thumping shot was parried by Aynsley Pears but the Clarets were under pressure again and Baker squandered a glorious chance, glancing a header just wide in the 77th minute.

Rovers were unable to fashion another opportunity of note and the Clarets held on to keep the pressure on Leeds at the summit.

The managers

Blackburn’s John Eustace:

To follow…

Burnley’s Scott Parker:

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