IT wasn’t quite the 10-0 David Dunn had been dreaming but the manner of Blackburn Rovers’ derby triumph was more convincing than even the most die hard of supporter could have imagined.

Forget the controversy, Mike Dean’s dubious refereeing display and Martin Olsson’s so-called ‘dive’, Rovers’ 1-0 Turf Moor victory was more than just as their bitter Burnley rivals showed little signs of having the capability of pulling off a Premier League great escape.

Olsson did go down in the penalty area under minimal, if any, contact from Tyrone Mears and Brian Jensen for David Dunn’s first half winner from the spot but just minutes earlier the Swede had a perfectly good goal wiped out for offside.

Rovers could have won handsomely, with Olsson squandering a succession of chances and hitting the bar while Jason Brown was not once called into action in the visitors’ goal.

It is a defeat for Burnley that certainly hasn’t yet ended their hopes of Premier League survival but both sets of fans will know it has done them little good.

Rovers’ season on the other hand threatens to turn from good to great as they move into a top 10 position – with a derby double safely secured.

Sam Allardyce talked about the importance of experience in the pre-match build-up and for a large part of yesterday’s clash it was men against boys.

David Dunn, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Chris Samba and El-Hadji Diouf all led by example, as Rovers bossed for the majority, but their youngsters also proved they could more than cope with the pressure.

Swedish under 21 international Olsson seemed unstoppable down the left for the majority, while local lad Phil Jones, just 18, again starred in just his third Premier League start.

Burnley were better in the second half than they were in the first but had Olsson’s finishing matched his quality elsewhere on the pitch, the Clarets would have been looking at a hiding.

Rovers may have secured their Premier League status already but don’t think for one minute that yesterday’s Turf Moor tussle meant anything less to the blue and white half of East Lancashire.

Top flight status is obviously the priority but local pride and bragging rights cannot be underestimated – especially with the next meeting between the two sides potentially another few years in the waiting.

The status of East Lancashire top dogs was already Rovers’ but, having underlined their superiority at Ewood earlier this campaign, a derby double was a must for the travelling army.

Thatcher wasn’t even prime minister, Ipswich were the FA Cup holders and David Dunn hadn’t even been born – that is how long Rovers have enjoyed crowing rights over their Claret and Blue rivals and haven’t they made the most of it.

It wasn’t just Rovers’ fans who knew what the East Lancashire was all about either though, with Jones and Dunn both brought up among the rivalry – and very much in the blue camp.

The nerves were obvious, with goalkeeper Jason Brown and the vastly experienced Michel Salgado almost getting in a muddle in just the second minute, while Leon Cort’s hoof into the crowd was another sign of the occasion.

It was the visitors though who made the more positive start, with Jason Roberts looking more than a handful for Burnley’s defence and Pedersen looking dangerous in the centre of the park.

Dunn was trying to pull the strings in the centre of the park and it was from his volleyed pass that should have seen Rovers go ahead, after Olsson’s strike was disallowed for offside – although replays showed he was onside.

The Rovers fans didn’t have long to wait to cheer for real though as their side’s early superiority was capped by Dunn’s opener from the penalty spot.

Whether Olsson was clipped in the area or not will be debated at length but, once Mike Dean gave it, how Mears escaped a red card was anyone’s guess.

Something was always going to have to give, with Rovers woeful run of results away from home and Burnley’s awful league form in general. The opening 20 minutes certainly suggested it was the visitors whose luck was about to change.

Rovers simply looked stronger, more composed in possession and far more potent in attack, while Burnley understandably looked short on ideas and confidence. It was all about staying in the game for them.

By half time, it really could have been game over. Pedersen, Roberts and Salgado all went close to extending the lead while, at the other end, Brown remained relatively untested.

The Clarets had to improve after the break, and they did, as the time and space Sam Allardyce’s men were afforded in the first half suddenly wasn’t allowed any more – although Burnley’s quality was still rarely there.

The quality was still coming from Rovers and Olsson deserved better midway through the half as his volley cannoned off the bar, although the Swede should have scored minutes later when Jensen parried his drive.

Rovers did have to survive the expected late few scares, with Samba brilliantly flicking the ball past his own post late on, but in honesty it was all a surprisingly comfortable afternoon for Allardyce’s men.