Burnley triumphed over their East Lancashire rivals Blackburn with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Ewood Park. In a tightly contested derby, the decisive moment came in the 60th minute when Zian Flemming’s diving header, Burnley’s first effort on target, found the back of the net. The goal ignited celebrations among the 3,926 traveling fans.
Manager Scott Parker leaned heavily on his team’s resolute defense to maintain the advantage, and they delivered, successfully thwarting Blackburn’s numerous set-piece opportunities. Despite persistent pressure, Blackburn could not break through a defense that has conceded just five goals on the road this season. Their best opportunity fell to Lewis Baker late in the game, but his glancing header missed the target.
The win marked Burnley’s fourth consecutive victory at Ewood Park, reinforcing their dominance at the venue where they clinched the league title during their last visit. With performances like this, Burnley remains well-positioned to challenge for top honors this season, extending their unbeaten run to 13 matches. Meanwhile, Blackburn’s struggles continue, as they remain winless in five games and outside the play-off spots.
The match was a cagey affair, with limited chances on both sides. Blackburn started aggressively, forcing a series of corners, but Burnley’s defense stood firm. Jaidon Anthony’s early effort was blocked, while Amario Cozier-Duberry’s lively play saw him cut inside and unleash a deflected shot that went narrowly wide in the first half. Makhtar Gueye had a chance to make an impact but sent a looping header wide just before halftime.
The second half mirrored the first until Burnley broke the deadlock. Anthony delivered a cross from the right, finding Bashir Humphreys on the opposite flank, who delivered a pinpoint ball for Flemming to head into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
Blackburn responded with relentless pressure, creating a chaotic goalmouth scramble that was ultimately smothered by Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. Sondre Tronstad came close with a deflected shot, but Burnley held their ground. At the other end, Anthony’s powerful strike was parried by Aynsley Pears, while Baker missed a golden chance with a misdirected header in the 77th minute.
Despite Blackburn’s late efforts, Burnley held firm to secure a vital victory, maintaining pressure on league leaders Leeds while leaving Blackburn to rue missed opportunities in their push for a play-off position.
