Bank on yet another derby draw between Blackburn and Burnley

Blackburn midfielder David Dunn has scored every time he has played against Burnley and, as if that didn’t make him talismanic enough, Rovers have never lost the East Lancashire derby when he has been involved.

Sean Dyche’s Clarets are flying high, however, and look the team most likely to join Championship leaders Leicester City automatically in the Premier League next term at 4/6. Visitors Burnley are made narrow 17/10 favourites ahead of Blackburn at 9/5 (7/1 for a top-six finish), but the last three derbies days have been drawn.

That may have had plenty to do with sendings off, one apiece, in recent encounters, but Coral offer brilliant value on the spoils being shared at 11/5. Each of the last three have ended with the same scoreline of 1-1 too. Back that outcome for a fourth consecutive derby at 5/1.

If Dunn has delivered in the fixture down the years, then Gary Bowyer will now be looking for Rovers top-scorer Jordan Rhodes to end his goal drought. His loss of form has not gone unnoticed as Scotland boss Gordon Strachan left him out of the squad that won in Poland.

Rhodes last scored in the Championship on New Year’s Day, so he is due a goal. Back the 16-goal striker to net the opener at 4/1. Veteran midfielder Dunn, meanwhile, is superb value for a goal anytime given his record at 5/1.

Should Burnley go on to return to the top-flight for the first time since 2010, it will be in large part down to front two Danny Ings and Sam Vokes. This 36-goal parternship cannot be relied upon to score against Blackburn, however, if their personal returns are anything to go by.

Between them, Ings and Vokes have netted just once in the East Lancashire derby. That could easily change of course here, but five of the last 10 Clarets goals have been scored by midfielders.

Punters who are prepared to ignore that stat can back Ings at 4/1 to net first and Wales frontman Vokes to be on target anytime at 6/5. Burnley have not beaten their rivals since 1979, which adds further weight to piling money on a draw at Ewood Park.