U21 SENIOR CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BLACKBURN ROVERS

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Clarets play hosts in East Lancashire derby with County Cup final spot up for grabs

2023-05-04T04:00:00.000Z

U21 SENIOR CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BLACKBURN ROVERS

Clarets play hosts in East Lancashire derby with County Cup final spot up for grabs

2023-05-04T04:00:00.000Z

Clarets play hosts in East Lancashire derby with County Cup final spot up for grabs

The U21s will look to reach a second successive Lancashire Senior Cup final tomorrow morning – 5th May – as they host Blackburn Rovers in the last four of the competition behind closed doors at the Burnley Training Centre (10.30am KO).

The Clarets lost out 1-0 to Liverpool in the final of the County Cup last term, and this time around it’s Barrow AFC that await the winners of Friday’s East Lancashire derby having seen off Accrington Stanley in their own semi-final tie.

12-time winners of the Senior Cup, Burnley this season received a bye in Round One before beating Blackpool 3-1 in the last eight back in early February.

U21 SENIOR CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BLACKBURN ROVERS - Image 1

Jez Davies, Joe Westley & Renaldo Torraj were the trio on target that afternoon at the Burnley Training Centre.

Now, almost three months on to the day, the U21s head into tomorrow’s semi-final on the back of a 4-2 defeat to Swansea City in league action at Turf Moor on Monday.

Welsh winger Tom Tweedy – scoring for the second game running - and Seb Thompson both found the back of the net against the Swans to twice level things up, before two quickfire strikes in the second half from the visitors saw them claim all three points.

U21 SENIOR CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BLACKBURN ROVERS - Image 2

Semi-final opponents Blackburn meanwhile, who ply their trade in Premier League 2, Division 1, head to the Burnley Training Centre following a 3-0 victory at home against Crystal Palace which officially sealed their survival in the top tier of academy football.

Forward Harry Leonard was amongst the goalscorers against the Eagles, and he’s been involved in Jon Dahl Tomasson’s senior setup at Championship level this season, already making four appearances.

At U21 level, Rovers are headed up by former Manchester City striker Mike Sheron. Having also received a bye in Round One of the County Cup this term, they reached the last four with a quarter-final victory over Preston North End, 2-0 winners on home soil in March.

U21 SENIOR CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BLACKBURN ROVERS - Image 3

The last East Lancashire derby at this level came in a friendly ahead of the start of the 2021/22 campaign, when the Clarets ran out thumping 6-2 winners. Michael Mellon, Dara Costelloe & Ne-Jai Tucker (2) all got on the scoresheet that day.

This time around, with a final spot on the line, we’ll have coverage for you on Twitter via @ClaretsAcademy, and have a report for you post-match here on burnleyfc.com.

Tomorrow’s game will take place behind closed doors. Please do not travel to the Burnley Training Centre.