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Derby day in east Lancashire

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 18/10/2009
Football betting

Blackburn Rovers and Burnley lock horns on Sunday in an east Lancashire derby which will be as hotly contested as anything in Manchester or on Merseyside.

The first meeting of these two historic clubs for eight years will take place in front of a sell-out Ewood Park crowd.

But while they have not crossed swords all that often in recent seasons, there will be no love lost with local bragging rights up for grabs.

"If you can't get yourself up for this game then you may as well give up," explained Rovers midfielder David Dunn, who is likely to be the only survivor of the Blackburn side which thrashed Burnley 5-0 on their last derby encounter in the Championship in 2001.

"People who aren't from here probably wouldn't give a damn about the match. But it is a big derby. The bragging rights are at stake, they are obviously doing quite well and fair play to them but we really want one over on them."

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce will have spent the international break trying to tighten up a defence which was ripped to shreds by Arsenal during a 6-2 thrashing two weeks ago.

Question marks are also still hanging over the participation of key players Christopher Samba (knee), Benni McCarthy (ankle), Paul Robinson (hip) and skipper Ryan Nelsen (back).

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Online betting favourites Burnley make the short journey looking to pick up their fifth win of an already impressive first Premier League season.

Long-term absentees Jay Rodriguez, Martin Paterson, Chris McCann, Fernando Guerrero and Kevin McDonald are still unavailable, so manger Owen Coyle is unlikely to make too many changes to the side which edged out Birmingham City 2-1 two weeks ago.

Sunday's other game sees Wigan Athletic play host to Manchester City.

Home fans will be wondering which Latics side will turn up for Sunday's meeting with Manchester City at the DW Stadium.

They will be hoping to see the side that defeated league leaders Chelsea 3-1 last month rather than the one which lost 2-1 at Hull City the following weekend.

Meanwhile, City make the short trip to Wigan looking to maintain their place in the top four.

Mark Hughes' side have responded positively to losing a highly-charged Manchester derby 4-3 in stoppage time last month and look every inch a top-four club in the race for Champions League qualification.

Striker Craig Bellamy could be the key man after scoring four goals in his last five games.

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