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Blackburn came from behind to register a much-needed 3-2 win over Burnley in the first East Lancashire derby in the top flight for 43 years at Ewood Park.

Robbie Blake stunned the partisan home crowd by putting Burnley into the lead after just five minutes but the excellent David Dunn (pictured) soon restored parity for Rovers.

On-loan Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo put the hosts ahead on 21 minutes before Pascal Chimbonda added a third before the half-time break.

Substitute Chris Eagles swooped in injury time to pull one back for Burnley and set up a frantic final few minutes, but Blackburn held on to secure local bragging rights until the two sides next meet in March.

The result helped put some distance between Blackburn and the relegation zone as Sam Allardyce's side moved up to 12th place, while Burnley's miserable away form continued with their fifth defeat of the season so far.

Burnley had waited 360 minutes for an away goal heading into the game, but it took them just five more to find the back of the net, Blake adding to the cracker he scored against Manchester United earlier in the season with another excellent strike, this time a crisp drive from 25 yards.

It was the perfect start for Owen Coyle's side and gave hope to their travelling fans - some of whom had been in the ground several hours before kick-off - that the Clarets' luck was to change away from Turf Moor.

But Burnley soon reverted to type as Blackburn flexed their muscles and began to impose the physical side of their game on the visitors.

Clarke Carlisle and Steven Caldwell in particular struggled to deal with the long balls delivered into the penalty area with Di Santo and Steven Nzonzi both enjoying themselves in the air. Meanwhile the immense frame of Chris Samba persistently caused consternation each time he rumbled forward at set pieces.

Despite their powerful aerial game, it was a deft touch on the ground from Di Santo that created the opportunity for the influential Dunn to equalise on nine minutes, the Argentine cleverly laying off for Rovers' skipper and only Lancashire-born player to find the far corner.

El Hadji-Diouf should have put Rovers ahead on the quarter-hour mark before Di Santo actually did six minutes later.

The on-loan Chelsea striker will not score an easier goal and could barely believe his luck as Graham Alexander's tame attempted headed clearance found him in the six-yard box after Brian Jensen and Stephen Jordan had got in each other's way. All that was left to do was nod over the line. He duly obliged and Rovers took a 2-1 lead.

That became 3-1 before the half-time whistle sounded after Chimbonda rounded off a superb Blackburn move by cutting back inside Steven Fletcher and finding the corner with a precise shot. It was the Frenchman's first goal in a claret and blue shirt.

Burnley came out after the break slightly more settled although it took the introduction of Eagles just before the hour mark to spark them into life.

The former Manchester United man nearly made an immediate impact, leading a quick Burnley break but Blake's eventual ball in towards Nugent was scrambled clear by the hosts' defence.

Eagles went close in the final minute and was only denied by a fingertip save by Paul Robinson, who had himself earlier nearly scored after Jensen misjudged his long punt forward.

Two minutes later and Eagles did get his name on the scoresheet, sliding in to finish Jordan's centre, but despite a frantic final few minutes during which Dunn could have added a fourth for Blackburn, there were to be no last-gasp heroics.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport