Robbie Blake gave Burnley an early lead, before David Dunn, Franco Di Santo and Pascal Chimbonda struck to give Rovers a 3-1 half time lead. Chris Eagles gave Burnley a glimmer of hope with an injury time goal, but it was not enough to prevent Blackburn netting their third consecutive home win.
Burnley shocked their bitter rivals by taking the lead in the fifth minute. Wade Elliott controlled the ball superbly in the centre circle and passed to Blake. After cutting inside onto his right foot, he unleashed an unstoppable 20 yard shot into the top corner.
Blackburn responded almost immediately, when Di Santo touched the ball down for Dunn to curl the ball into the bottom corner from 16 yards.
The home side started to gain a stranglehold on proceedings and deservedly took the lead after a mistake from Burnley ‘keeper Brian Jensen.
A floated free kick saw Christopher Samba head across goal, creating confusion in the Claret’s defence. Jensen collided with his team-mate, Stephen Jordan, and Di Santo was there to head into an empty net.
Blackburn should have extended their lead on the half hour mark, but Samba could only head over after being found by Dunn’s corner.
Stephen Caldwell came close for Burnley with a back-post header, but Rovers scored their third with three minutes of the half remaining.
A cross-field ball by Keith Andrews was knocked down into the path of Chimbonda, who cut inside the defender and curled the ball into the bottom corner to give his side a commanding half time lead.
Burnley started the second half brighter, and the previously ineffectual Steven Fletcher and David Nugent combined before Fletcher dragged his left foot shot just wide.
On the hour mark, Caldwell had another free header from a set-piece, which was half cleared to Elliott, but he could only send his volley high over the bar.
Chances were at a premium as a flurry of substitutions broke the flow of the game, and it wasn’t until eight minutes on time that Burnley threatened again, but substitute Stephen Thompson’s ambitious first time effort was well wide.
Blackburn looked comfortable going into the final few minutes, but Burnley continued to plug away at the Rovers defence and Eagles forced keeper’ Paul Robinson into a fingertip save.
However, one minute later, Robinson was helpless to prevent Burnley pulling a goal back when Jordan pulled the ball back to Eagles who converted into the bottom corner.
Morten Gamst Pedersen very nearly wrapped up the points for Blackburn a minute later, but they managed to hold on to secure a vital victory over their Lancashire rivals, handing Burnley their fifth straight away defeat in the Premiership.
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