Stout but No Claret Wine in Rovers Return!

Burnley put in an impressive stout performance at Turf Moor against the old enemy in the 100th meeting between the two East Lancashire rivals on Saturday but once again just failed to take all three points having to settle for a 1-1 draw for the third time in succession. It`s a pity too because a win would have briefly put us top of the Championship for a time with the live Sky Sports televised game having kicked-off early ahead of the normal 3pm games. Most of the clubs around the Clarets also won later that afternoon though and we slipped two places to fifth. We now have eleven points from six games, five behind league leaders Blackpool and second-placed QPR who both won on Saturday.

The Clarets had the lion`s share of possession too against Blackburn and at times completely dominated proceedings especially in the first half but just couldn`t break down the Rovers defence until the 76th minute when a wonder strike from Junior Stanislas, easily a candidate for goal of the season looked to have sealed all three points. There is always controversy in these derby games though and luck seems to play a great part at times especially in favour of that lot at the other end of the M65. This game proved to be no exception when an awful attempted back pass to the keeper by Scott Arfield was pounced upon by Jordan Rhodes. It looked like Michael Duff though had the situation covered until his attempted clearance hit Rhodes` shin and looped over the keeper into the net in the 85th minute. The ball could have gone anywhere but Rovers luck decided it would go into the net to deny Burnley their first victory over Blackburn since 1979. Even then the Clarets could have sealed victory when Danny ings was put clear on goal with only the keeper to beat in added time. A cynical tackle though by substitute Lee Williamson who had only just come onto the pitch floored Ings giving the referee no option but to send the player off. He took one for his team but it still wrangles with Clarets fans and you just wonder with ‘You`ll never beat the Rovers` wringing in your ears when justice will be dished out! Our day will come and boy will that be some celebration! Bring on Ewood next March. Victory would be even sweeter there so let`s hope that day the Claret wine will at long last be open!

Team Sheet

Sean Dyche made just one change to the starting eleven deciding as many predicted to give loan winger, Michael Kightly his debut. The unfortunate Keith Treacy who might have expected to play against one his former clubs was the one to make way and had to be content with a place on the bench. The bench was also noticeably in that we did not have a recognised striker available with Noble also not being named in the eighteen. Is this another sign of our bare bones squad? Even Sky Sports are now commenting on the precarious situation we could be in should anybody get injured or suspended. The debate will continue until we find a replacement for Austin I suspect but in summary this is how we lined up for the 100th derby:

Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Kightly, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Vokes, Ings

Subs : Cisak, Lafferty, Edgar, Long, Stock, Stanislas, Treacy

Full Match Report

South Yorkshire referee, Craig Pawson got this pot-boiler of a cotton mill derby underway and the Clarets got off to a blistering start. Rovers` keeper, Jake Kean attempted a clearance out of the area only to see the ball cannon off Sam Vokes and fly just wide of the open goal. In the sixth minute Trippier attempted a dipping shot from a direct free kick from distance that gave the away contingent a few palpitations before the ball flew just over. Four minutes later and Trippier was again involved finding space on the right to put over a low, driven cross before Jason Lowe managed to deflect the ball onto the roof of the net. This was a good spell by the Clarets and the pressure continued for most of the first half. A long range shot from Scott Arfield forced Kean into a save by parrying the ball away. Ings though picked up the loose ball and tested the keeper again. Kean was equal to the threat though saving at his near post. Trippier took another free-kick on the half-hour mark but this time his drilled effort was saved by the keeper and from the break Rovers had their first real chance of the game so far! Todd Kane picked up the ball and charged forward before laying the ball off to find Cairney. The on-loan Hull midfielder then let rip with a shot that was heading for the bottom corner of the net, until an alert Heaton, who had hardly seen the ball so far pulled off a spectacular save after diving to his left at full stretch to turn the ball round the post. The last chance of the half fell to Burnley though when Ings found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area. He attempted to curl his shot only to see the ball fly just over the angle. Both sides had to be content then with deadlock at half-time although clearly Burnley had been the dominant side in the first 45 minutes.

No changes were made by either side for the start of the second-half and once again Burnley started brightly and began to put Rovers under pressure. We just couldn`t seem to make the pressure count though and Rovers seemed to sense the frustration. It was a testing time when the visitors were awarded five successive corners but Burnley weathered the storm. In the 68th minute, Dyche decided to liven proceedings up by bringing on Junior Stanislas to replace debutant winger, Michael Kightly who was clearly now tiring and boy would that prove to be an inspired substitution! Seven minutes later Stanislas would put the Clarets ahead in spectacular style. The former West ham winger was involved in a neat one-two with Ings before creating enough space out of nothing to unleash a 30 yard screamer that flew past Kean into the bottom corner of the net. It was an inspired goal and the home crowd now went wild with celebration. It wasn`t to be though and with five minutes to go disaster struck leaving Clarets fans crestfallen and in despair. Arfield attempted a back pass to the keeper but it fell well-short allowing Rhodes to pounce and charge towards goal. Cutting inside to beat Shackell, he then had to try and get around Duff but the defender got to the ball first and managed to attempt a clearance only to see the ball ricochet of Rhodes`s shin to loop over Heaton into the back of the net. Rotten, rotten luck but you almost expect it against this lot! There was still controversy to follow when in added time Danny Ings on the half-way line looked to be in the clear with only the keeper to beat. Having got past the last man, substitute Lee Williamson, he looked likely to go on and score before being hacked down in an atrocious tackle from behind by Williamson. The referee had no option but to send the player off but a red card so late in the game still seemed to be little justice after what seemed a certain winning goal. What do the Clarets have to do to finally put this jinx to bed? One day we will beat Blackburn but with a whole generation not having experienced that wonderful feeling, we all hope that will be soon.

Match Stats

Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Kightly (Stanislas – 68),Marney, Jones, Arfield, Vokes, Ings

Subs Not Used: Cisak, Lafferty, Edgar, Long, Stock, Treacy

Goal: Stanislas 76

Booked: Yellow Cards for Marney (58), Duff (62) and Mee (80)

Blackburn Rovers: Kean, Kane, Spurr, G Hanley, Dann, Lowe (Judge – 79), King, Marshall (Taylor – 79), Evans (Williamson – 90), Cairney, Rhodes

Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Kilgallon, Morris, Marrow

Goal: Rhodes 85

Booked: Straight Red Card for Williamson (90 + 2), Yellow Card for Lowe (39)

Possession: 55% Burnley, 45% Blackburn (Source: BBC Sport)

Ref: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)