Get ready

There are many derbies throughout the football world that inspire passion and rivarly amongst fans, most have larger crowds than Rovers v Burnley, most are higher profile than Blackburn v Burnley.

But not many are better than Blackburn v Burnley.

Ask any player to have played in the game and they’ll tell you it is an occasion to savour, both teams may be struggling for form and quality but as we head into Sunday it will count for very little as the two go head to head once again.

Both sides are in need of a morale boosting win after slipping down the table to the point where a couple of badly timed results will see a season ending relegation battle and with Rovers in particular struggling on the injury front inspiration has to come from somewhere.

Rovers boss Michael Appleton has himself confessed that his side need a pick me up after the galling loss to Millwall in midweek and there is also the little matter of local pride and 34 years of history to sustain.

“Some of the fans probably think it is more important to beat Burnley than it was to win on Wednesday night, that is a bit difficult to take. But I understand the fierce rivalry and I respect that.’ Appleton told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“The next two games are going to be tough because they are against local rivals and on our own patch. We have to be brave.

“Sometimes where the fans might want the ball to go forward quicker, we have to be brave and patient and get the ball into wide areas before we get the ball into the box.

“You can feel disappointed and feel sorry for yourself but you can only do it for so long. No one else is going to feel sorry for us. We are where we are. We look forward to the next game.”

There will be nerves, it won’t be easy and it is going to be tight. But it’ll be a battle, which is what a local rivalry is all about.

Strap yourself in for the Cotton Mill derby.