MORTEN Gamst Pedersen has hailed his 2005 derby day winner as ‘one of the best moments of my career’ as he looks to ensure Rovers’ class of 2009 remain top dogs in East Lancashire.

Blackburn Rovers’ Norwegian international knocked Burnley out of the FA Cup the last time the fierce rivals met and admits the intensity of the occasion surprised almost everyone involved.

Pedersen’s 84th minute winner in 2005 in an FA Cup fifth round secured him hero status at Ewood Park, after Micah Hyde had cancelled out Tugay’s opener, and he is now gunning for the Clarets again.

Owen Coyle’s men visit Ewood on Sunday with Rovers unbeaten against Burnley for more than 30 years and, having not met in the top flight since 1966, Pedersen knows how much is at stake this weekend.

He said: “Scoring the goal as well meant after the game I realised how important the game was. Everyone I saw in Blackburn was shaking my hand and saying ‘well done’.

“Of course that would be one of the most important goals ever for me. It made a lot of people very pleased in Blackburn. It is a special occasion to score in and I would love to do it again.

“Not everyone liked me in Burnley after that but that’s okay, I haven’t been there since. The crowd just went mental, they have been loud but that was the loudest ever.”

Since arriving at Ewood Park from Tromso in 2004, Pedersen has played against all the Premier League giants in his 200 plus appearances for the club as well as playing more than 50 games for Norway.

He admits though few games will have rivalled the atmosphere expected for Sunday’s visit of Burnley as they prepare for their first top flight meeting for 43 years.

He said: “Of course first time I played against Burnley, I didn’t know how big the game was. I knew it was a local derby but I didn’t know it was so intense and so passionate.

“When you came out to warm up, all the crowd were in, it was a full house and there was real expectancy. Until you play in it and experience it, you can’t realise how big the game is.

“It is the biggest game for the club. It is bigger to play Burnley in a local derby than it is to play Manchester United if you look at history.

”You have to be prepared and I am looking forward to it.”

Burnley currently sit five points clear of Rovers in the Premier League, albeit having played one game more, with Clarets fans claiming the balance of power in East Lancashire is set to shift.

The Ewood Park game is expected to be a stark contrast of styles, with Coyle’s slick passing game coming up against Sam Allardyce’s more direct approach, with Pedersen admitting his long throw has been a good weapon of attack.

“We create a lot from the long throw this season,” said Pedersen.

“It has been quite dangerous. It is like a corner and it is always easier to throw the ball in the right position than kicking it.

“We have been practicing it. It is part of a set piece. I think the throw developed from me playing handball in Norway.

“Chris Samba is a big target to hit. I try to aim for the right area and it is not always you have to win the first ball, it is the second that is most important. You never score from the first ball.

“It is not about how long you can throw it, it is the right area.

"It is more about accuracy. The games are becoming more and more equal as teams become more professional - so set pieces are becoming very very important.”

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