Dunn the maestro for Blackburn’s demolition derby

OVER 30 years had passed since England’s top flight last played host to an east Lancashire derby, but for Blackburn supporters, at least, the wait was worthwhile.

Sam Allardyce’s side ensured local bragging rights and a useful three points with a stirring victory, shrugging off the effect of Robbie Blake’s early goal to deservedly prevail by the odd goal in five.

Goals from the hugely impressive David Dunn, revelling in a new striking role after spending the vast majority of his career as a midfielder, Franco di Santo and Pascal Chimbonda put Rovers in control and, while Chris Eagles reduced Burnley’s arrears late on, the scoreline was flattering to the visitors.

Burnley have now lost five successive games on the road in the Premier League this season, although at least their wait for a top flight goal is over, and the fans who were denied tickets for this most local of spats were probably grateful they were not among the 3,000 who did manage to secure a seat.

Allardyce could hardly contain his delight with this win, an early 55th birthday present, and he was quick to pay tribute to the principle architect.

“David Dunn was superb,” he purred. “The first thing we had to do this season was to secure a fit David Dunn so he could be selected regularly.

“Then he had to work out what he had to do on his own when everyone else had disappeared from the training ground.

“We have also found him a position that suits, playing just off the front man and he is playing better than he has for a long time.

“He is not only our leading scorer but he is providing others the opportunity to get goals. He is doing a terrific job.

“Dunny can change games and he put us back in contention against Burnley very early. That was important from our point of view.”

The man himself was equally enthused by a thoroughly satisfying result, although – perhaps wisely, given the tensions which habitually surround this fixture – he declined to rub Burnley’s noses in it.

“To score against Burnley was great but more important than that was to get the three points,” he said.

“Our next couple of games are really difficult so it’s great to get 10 points before we play those matches. But you could see by the reaction of the fans at the end how much this meant.”

Yet the afternoon had started so differently. Blake’s early strike – propelled home from 25 yards after Rovers had allowed him a free run at goal – was the equivalent of a punch in the stomach for the home side but Dunn was in no mood to stay down for long.

Shortly after, Morten Gamst Pedersen crossed into the area and a clever flick by Di Santo released Dunn and he scored from close range.

Now it was Burnley’s turn to rock. El Hadji Diouf might have compounded their misery after being set up by Steven Nzonzi, only to slice wide, but Blackburn’s frustration did not last long.

In the 22nd minute, Di Santo took advantage of Graham Alexander’s misplaced clearance to fire Rovers ahead, despite Burnley’s protests that their goalkeeper Brian Jensen had been impeded.

Di Santo hardly cared and duly celebrated his first goal for his new club in front of the visiting supporters, an act which yielded an inevitable booking.

Burnley had to keep the deficit to one to stand any chance but that task proved beyond them. Two minutes before the interval, Keith Andrews picked out Pedersen on the left and he released Chimbonda on the overlap.

The former Tottenham full-back pulled away from Steven Fletcher and cut into the area before finding the corner with his effort.

Burnley tried hard in the second half and were eventually rewarded with Eagles netting from Stephen Jordan’s cross, but it was scant consolation for their manager Owen Coyle.

“We got off to a great start and it was a terrific goal from Robbie then we conceded some soft goals,” he said.

“We have scored two goals but got no points. However that away win is around the corner – we will continue to play on the front foot as that is what our fans deserve.”

REFEREE: Chris Foy (Merseyside) 6: Plenty of cards were sprinkled, inevitably given the circumstances, but he got most of the big decisions right.

MATCH RATING: *** Frenetic stuff, albeit lacking in guile.