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REPORT: BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 - 1 BURNLEY

Benson second half goal crowns the Clarets champions

2023-04-25T21:07:34.406Z

REPORT: BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 - 1 BURNLEY

Benson second half goal crowns the Clarets champions

2023-04-25T21:07:34.406Z

GALLERY: BLACKBURN V BURNLEY - Gallery Photo 23

Burnley sealed the Sky Bet Championship title in fine fashion with a historic 1-0 win over Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night thanks to a Manuel Benson wonder strike at Ewood Park.

For the third consecutive game, Benson cut in from the right wing onto his left foot and curled the ball home into the far corner in front of the Clarets faithful behind the goal to secure top-spot in table.

The victory sees the Clarets complete the 'double' over Rovers, scoring four goals with no reply in either fixture from Jon Dahl Tomasson's men.

Manager Vincent Kompany made three changes from the side that featured against QPR last weekend.

Ameen Al-Dakhil and Charlie Taylor replaced Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jordan Beyer in the heart of defence with Vitinho coming in for Manuel Benson in attack.

GALLERY: BLACKBURN V BURNLEY - Gallery Photo 19

First Half

It took both sides a little while to settle into the highly anticipated clash as both sides looked to carve open an early lead.

The Clarets dominated possession and controlled the early stages and with 13 minutes on the clock Burnley’s first chance came when Al-Dakhil steered Gudmundsson’s corner wide of the target.

Dolan tried his luck from close range following a counter attack from the hosts but the former Preston North End winger’s effort was no trouble for Muric.

Rankin-Costelloe then guided a towering header inside the box off target from Hedges’ corner with half-an-hour played at Ewood.

GALLERY: BLACKBURN V BURNLEY - Gallery Photo 13

Rovers had another chance before the break when Szmodics’ delivery into the area was deflected off the head of Maatsen and onto the roof of the net for a corner.

Second Half

The hosts started on the front foot in the second half and came close when Dolan robbed Taylor of possession before seeing Muric deny his effort.

Brereton Diaz then looked to spark an attack for Rovers but was brought down on the edge of the area by Cullen who was shown a yellow card.

Kompany turned to his bench on the hour mark introducing Jack Cork and Manuel Benson for Gudmundsson and Vitinho in search of an opening goal.

Both substitutes then combined to break the deadlock just six minutes after coming on.

Cork threaded the ball out wide to the Belgian, who then did what he does best, cut in from the left and curl a wonder strike into the far corner past a stranded Pears in goal to give Burnley the lead.

CLARETS CLASSIC CLASH: BLACKBURN ROVERS 2023 - Image 2

There was a late chance for Benson to double the lead in stoppage time after racing through towards goal following a Rovers corner with Pears still tracking back, but the attacker's effort clipped the crossbar and fizzed out of play.

Jubilant celebrations followed the full-time whistle with the Clarets fans in the Darwen End as Burnley secured the league title with two games left to play.

Burnley: Muric, Roberts, Taylor, Al-Dakhil, Maatsen (Harwood-Bellis 90), Cullen, Gudmundsson (Cork 58), Zaroury (Rodriguez 90), Brownhill ©, Vitinho (Benson 58), Barnes

Unused Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Foster, Obafemi

Blackburn Rovers: Pears, Pickering (Brittain 74), Hyam, Carter, Rankin-Costello, Hedges (Dack 74), Dolan (Thomas 74), Szmodics, Travis © (Leonard 84), Wharton, Brereton Diaz

Unused Subs: Kaminski, Garrett, Phillips

Goals: Benson 66',

Attendance: 18,166 (2,244)