BLACKBURN Rovers go into Sunday’s East Lancashire derby ahead of Burnley in the Championship table, and history has very much been on their side in similar situations in the past.

More often than not Rovers have gone into recent derby games lying above the Clarets in the league ladder.

Only twice in the last eight meetings have Burnley held the highest league position at the time. Those eight meetings have produced seven Rovers wins and one draw.

October 18 2009 Rovers 3 Burnley 2

Burnley did actually go into the weekend of this Premier League fixture on an encouraging 12 points and in ninth position in the table after a flying start under Owen Coyle. Rovers were 16th on seven points and won 3-2.

March 28 2010 Burnley 0 Rovers 1

By the time of the reverse fixture at Turf Moor, Rovers had leapfrogged Burnley and had 38 points. Burnley were in the relegation zone on 24 points and lost 1-0.

February 20 2005 Burnley 0 Rovers 0

Rovers sat 16th in the Premier League, a division above Burnley, who were mid-table in the second tier.

The FA Cup fifth round game finished 0-0.

March 1 2005 Rovers 2 Burnley 1 Premier League Rovers claimed victory in the replay with Morten Gamst Pedersen scoring the winner.

December 17 2000 Burnley 0 Rovers 2

Burnley went into this second tier match marginally ahead of Rovers in the league. The Clarets were eighth on 38 points, with Rovers in ninth on 36 points. But the visitors leapfrogged their rivals in the table with an away win.

April 1 2001 Rovers 5 Burnley 0

By the time the second derby of the season took place Rovers’ promotion challenge was in full gear. Burnley sat 10th on 55 points with Rovers third on 69, moving into the top two with a convincing win.

December 27 1982 Burnley 0 Rovers 1 Rovers were 11th in the Second Division on 26 points, with Burnley second bottom on 14 points. Simon Garner gave Rovers victory.

April 4 1983 Rovers 2 Burnley 1

Rovers were in mid-table on 43 points, with Burnley bottom on 31. Simon Garner scored two penalties.

December 26 1978 Burnley 2 Rovers 1

The fortunes were reversed in 1978/79 in terms of the league table, and significantly this was when Burnley last had derby joy.

In the days of two points for a win, Rovers were third bottom of the Second Division on 16 points – with Burnley eighth on 30. The Clarets won 2-1.

April 14 1979 Rovers 1 Burnley 2

Burnley’s last derby win over Rovers came when they led their rivals in the table by 36 points to 21.

Defeat put Rovers bottom, where they would finish at the end of a disappointing season.