Blackburn vs Burnley prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-04-24 19:00.
Perhaps an East Lancashire derby has never held as much importance for both Blackburn and Burnley, with Rovers not only needing the points to boost their play-off push, but also to rain on their bitter rivals’ title parade. It’s a second derby in quick succession for Blackburn after facing Preston on Saturday, but for the second game in succession they conceded a stoppage time equaliser to draw 1-1.
Those draws have seen Rovers displaced from the top-six, but with boss Jon Dahl Tomasson insisting his side are still out to “prove everyone wrong” this game is bigger than just a derby to Rovers. It’s likely going to take a gargantuan effort for a turnaround to start here though, as Blackburn haven’t beaten their bitter rivals in over 13 years (D3, L5), even failing to score a goal in the four defeats that bookend that run.
After 22 league games without defeat, Burnley’s fine unbeaten run came crashing to an abrupt halt on Saturday as they went down 2-1 to relegation battling QPR. The bad news didn’t stop there for Burnley on Saturday either, with news emerging that they could potentially be hit with a points deduction for fielding a weakened team against Reading a little over a week ago, though admittedly such a punishment seems unlikely. Sunday did at least yield better news for Burnley, with four players being named in the Championship team of the season and Vincent Kompany claiming the manager of the season award.
Already promoted to next season’s Premier League, all that remains for Burnley to do now is wrap up the title and what better place to do it than at the home of their arch enemies. A win will be enough to seal that here for the Clarets, but they’ll be doing so in front of a reduced away capacity after Rovers handed Burnley just 2000 tickets out of a possible 7000 which adds an extra layer of spice to one of English football’s fiercest rivalries.
Players to watch: In a game made for heroes, Blackburn will be hoping Sammie Szmodics can be that guy after four of his seven goals this term served as game winners. Burnley’s two-goal hero from their 3-0 win in the reverse fixture, Ashley Barnes, has struck after half-time with four of his last five goals.
Hot stat: Blackburn have led more Championship home games at half-time this season than any other side (HT: W12, D4, L4).