Happy Saturday folks! No lunchtime Premier League game this weekend, so all the focus is on Ewood Park where Lancashire rivals Blackburn and Burnley do battle. Team news on the way...

BLACKBURN XI: Steele; Marshall, Duffy, Hanley, Olsson; Conway, Akpan, Evans, Lawrence; Delfouneso, Rhodes
Subs: Raya, Henley, Spurr, Kilgallon, Williamson, O'Sullivan, Taylor

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer makes one change to the side that held Derby County to a goalless draw in midweek. It comes on the wing as Craig Conway returns to take the place of Chris Taylor, with Nathan Delfouneso keeping his place alongside Jordan Rhodes in attack.

BURNLEY XI: Heaton; Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee; Boyd, Jones, Barton, Arfield; Vokes, Gray
Subs: Gilks, Ward, C.Long, Taylor, Lowton, Hennings, Kightly

Like Bowyer, opposite number Sean Dyche also makes a single alteration to his starting XI. It also comes out wide as George Boyd returns from injury to take the place of Matt Taylor. It's a little harsh on Taylor, who scored the Clarets' late equaliser at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

H2H: There are plenty of footy teams in Lancashire, but this is the derby that matters most for Blackburn and Burnley fans. It dates back 133 years and this is the 102nd meeting between the two teams. Blackburn have 41 wins, Burnley 24, and there have been 21 draws.

H2H: In recent years, Blackburn are without a win in four encounters against the Clarets (D3 L1), having won the previous six in a row. Burnley triumphed in the last meeting 2-1 at Ewood in March 2014 to end a 35-year wait for a win against their arch rivals.

This derby is often feisty and there have been two red cards in the last three league games between the two.

Right, let's have a look at the table. Starting with the visitors, Burnley are fifth after 12 games and will go second, for a few hours at least, if they make it back-to-back successes at Ewood. Blackburn are 10 points worse off in 17th, but they have improved in recent weeks with one loss in six. They could go as high as 12th this weekend, but also drop as low as second-bottom.

Rovers have been particularly good at home of late. They haven't lost at Ewood since the opening weekend of the season and kept four straight clean sheets in front of their own fans. Only Middlesbrough and Reading (2) have conceded fewer goals at home this term.

PREDICTION: Keeping out Derby was a big boost for Blackburn on Wednesday night and Burnley will provide another stern test for Bowyer's side. Three of the last four meetings between the two have finished 1-1 and I see it going that way again.

On our pre-match poll, 52.7% of you are backing Blackburn, with 36.6% favouring Burnley and just 10.7% siding with me and the draw.

Like Blackburn at home, Burnley have been strong away in recent weeks. They are unbeaten in four on their travels, winning two, and have the fifth-best away record in the division. They will be cheered on today by a 4,500 sell-out allocation making the short 14-mile journey West down the M65.

STAT: Jordan Rhodes has scored in three of his last four appearances for Blackburn against Burnley. Rovers will hope he's back on the scoresheet today as they're in danger of going three games without scoring for the first time since February 2013.

The two teams are out of the tunnel and we're moments away from kickoff at an expectant Ewood Park. Today's referee, by the way, is Keith Stroud.

KICKOFF! Blackburn get us underway on an overcast day in Lancashire.

An early chance for Jones to put a ball into the Blackburn box after Hanley brought down Gray. His inswinging delivery was headed clear by Rhodes and then, at the other end, Burnley keeper Heaton did well to chest down Darikwa's dangerous backpass and clear away. A frantic start.

An end-to-end start, but not much has happened since. The energy of both sides is very high and Burnley especially are all over Blackburn, pressing them high up the pitch.

With the game yet to really get going, let me just quickly tell you about last night's Championship result. It was another local derby and Sheffield Wednesday were the ones celebrating after a 2-1 win over Rotherham United at the New York Stadium. Here's our match report.

CLOSE! We have our first attempt on goal and what a try it is from Rhodes! Olsson's low cross is a bit behind the Scotland international, but he improvises superbly with an outside-of-the-boot flick that has Heaton scrambling and loops just over the bar.

A light-hearted moment in the middle of the park as referee Stroud backpedals into Barton and takes the former Newcastle man out. The home fans liked that.

Bowyer will be fairly pleased with how his side have started - Blackburn have had 57% possession but you have to say that Burnley are putting them under plenty of pressure when they do have the ball.

A brief stoppage as Conway stays down on the wing after being clattered in an aerial challenge by Mee. It was a bit overzealous from the latter, but Stroud isn't being card happy and just gives the left-back a talking-to.

Big roar from the home supporters as Keane fails to clear properly, giving away a corner. Chance for Conway to deliver...

It's a good outswinging delivery but Vokes is up well to powerfully head clear the danger for the visitors. Dyche will want to see Vokes doing more at the other end, with Burnley still waiting for their first effort on goal.

OK. We're midway through the first half and there's been very little to get excited about in what should be a feisty Lancashire derby. The only chance we've had, and it was a half-chance at best, was when Rhodes inventively diverted towards goal and just put too much on it.

PENALTY SHOUT! Barton is FURIOUS with Stroud for not pointing to the spot after he broke into the box and tumbled under the challenge of Hanley. The Blackburn man certainly didn't get anything on the ball, but Barton fell very easily. One of those where you could argue both ways.

Watching it back again, you'd have to say that Barton was right to feel aggrieved. He nicked the ball away from Hanley and then was bundled over by the Scot.

STAT: Blackburn's last home league win against Burnley was a 3-2 triumph in October 2009. David Dunn, Franco Di Santo and Pascal Chimbonda scored the goals on that day six years ago.

Burnley's first shot at goal is blocked on the edge of the box after Vokes neatly turned to open up a yard of space. He and Gray beginning to see a bit more of the ball in the final third in the last few minutes.

Hmmmmm. Replays show that after that penalty appeal from Barton he was cynically tripped by Hanley off the ball as he charged off to shout at the referee. The ball was in play and had it been spotted, that could have also been a penalty.

SAVE! A first shot on target and it's almost a fine goal for the home side as Lawrence drills low from 22 yards and forces Heaton into a low save down to his left. The England international does really well to hold the ball as Rhodes was ready to pounce on any loose ball.

At the other end Burnley get their first clean shot away. It's Vokes again who tries his luck, this time pulling it wide from 20-odd yards.

SAVE! Blackburn keeper Steele is called into action for the first time as Arfield opens his body and looks for the bottom corner. Steele gets down quickly and firmly pushes the ball away from danger.

PENALTY SHOUT! Oh the irony. Blackburn want a spot kick at the other end as this time Barton gets his legs tangled with Lawrence in the box. Again, this could have easily been given but Stroud has decided against it. At least he's consistent. With both of them, if the challenge was made outside the box I think he'd blow up for a free kick straight away. Being in the area has just put some doubt in his mind.

CLOSE! After very little happened in the opening 20-25 minutes, there has been plenty to excite in the last few. Rhodes goes close for the second time here as he gets across his man to meet Conway's cross, heading just wide of the target.

And now at the other end we have our first real flashpoint. Marshall blatantly dived when under pressure from Gray in his own area and the referee bought it, awarding Blackburn a free kick. Gray's furious and Stroud brings in both players to talk it over and calm everyone down.

SHOT! A third and final chance of the half for Rhodes as Lawrence tees him up on the edge of the box. He's quickly closed down and can only blaze over.

A slow-burner at the start, but the match really came to life after the 25-minute mark. Unsurprisingly, Rhodes has been the biggest threat, but he hasn't hit the target with any of his three efforts.

Both sides have had good penalty shouts and you have to say that both Hanley and Barton made clumsy tackles in the area. At least referee Stroud hasn't given one and not the other. He's shown consistency; the wrong consistency, but consistency at least.

Rhodes had one excellent effort unluckily miss the target, but he'll be angry at himself for not testing the keeper with the other two.

The stats mirror the fact that it has been an even contest. Blackburn are edging the possession (55%) and have had five shots to Burnley's four. The Clarets are yet to win a corner.

STAT: Burnley have alternated between winning and drawing in their last four away games, drawing at Nottingham Forest last time out. So they should win today, right?

KICKOFF! No changes at half time from either manager. Burnley get us back underway.

Good start to the second half for Blackburn as first Delfouneso just can't quite grow enough to meet Conway's cross at the back post before Conway himself lashed high and wide from the left side of the area.

Poor defending from Marshall, who is a makeshift right-back to be fair, as he allows Arfield down the outside and into the area. The Burnley winger goes for the near post with a cheeky attempt, but Steele is never worried and watches it into the side-netting.

LUCKY BOY! Goodness me, Michael Duff, what are you playing at? The veteran centre-back looks in control of the situation but then lets the ball go through to goalkeeper Heaton with Rhodes lurking right behind him. Rhodes didn't even see it coming and couldn't quite react in time to poke home. In the end it was fine, but that was risky by Duff.

MISS! Miss of the season contender! Tom Lawrence, hang your head in shame! The Leicester City loanee played in Rhodes and then carried on his run, with Rhodes unselfishly returning it to him. All he has to do is sweep past Heaton from 12 yards, but he goes for power and blazes it high into the stand. Awful effort.

You get the feeling that Blackburn might really regret that miss. They tore Burnley apart and it was one of those chances where it really felt much easier to score than miss. Around 35 minutes to go and still we wait for the deadlock-breaker at Ewood.

CLOSE! Blackburn again go close as Evans's fizzing low strike whizzes past the post. Heaton might have had it covered, but he was certainly very worried.

With an hour now gone, both managers must be thinking about substitutions soon. Rouwen Hennings might be a player Dyche opts for to inject some life into the Burnley attack.

CHANCE! ANOTHER great chance for Blackburn as Rhodes slips inside Duff before sidefooting straight at Heaton from just 10 yards or so. He just had to go near the corner for a goal.

And there you go. Burnley don't deserve it at all, but they are in front as Arfield produces a sublime finish from the edge of the box after Blackburn failed to clear their lines from a free kick.

CHANCE! Blackburn look for an immediate response and Akpan makes a rare run into the box before heading straight at Heaton. The hosts' finishing has been dreadful today.

Blackburn have done well since the goal and it's Lawrence who tries his luck next with a low strike from about 30 yards that Heaton gathers easily. Burnley have been below-par today and they really are fortunate to be leading this game.

The stats show that Blackburn have had 12 shots to Burnley's 5, but they've only got four of those on target. The ones they have tested Heaton with haven't been well-directed enough and they'll really kick themselves if they don't get something out of this.

Still we wait for the first substitution of the match and you have to say that there's little on the Blackburn bench that will cause much danger. Chris Taylor might be the best option available and he's a midfielder still working his way back to full fitness.

Click here to see the Championship table as it stands. Burnley are third, not second, because Reading are beating Fulham 1-0 in a match that kicked off at 1.30pm. Lucas Piazon with the goal at Craven Cottage.

BLACKBURN SUB: As predicted, it is Taylor who comes on for Blackburn and no surprise that he replaces Delfouneso, who's been very quiet.

Into the final 10 minutes we go. After scoring, Burnley had their backs to the wall for five minutes or so, but in the last 10 Blackburn have struggled to break the Clarets down as they drop deeper and deeper trying to protect the lead.

OFF THE BAR! Conway has created more chances than any other player in the Championship this season, but he decides to go it alone here with a rasping 30-yard drive that pings back off the face of the woodwork. So close!

BURNLEY SUB: No goal for Gray today, but he's worked hard up front for Burnley. Chris Long is on for the former Brentford man.

Arfield ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the 4,500-strong away support:

CHANCE! Blackburn win a free kick on the right and Conway's delivery drops to Duffy in the area. The former Everton man has time to size up his shot but blazes it well over.

Another good ball in from the right and this time it's Evans who gets up and heads wide. That was Rovers' 16th attempt on goal and they have only got a quarter of them on target. Naaaat good enough.

THREE minutes of added time for Blackburn to get a goal that they fully deserve.

SAVE! Surely Blackburn's last chance and this time they do get it on target. Duffy's header tipped over by Heaton.

Football isn't fair sometimes and you have to feel for Blackburn there. They did enough to win the game and end up going home having let down their supporters in the big local derby. They created plenty of chances against a promotion-chasing Burnley side and just didn't take them.

Burnley's players are going wild in front of the away fans and that win takes them up to third in the table as it stands.

That's all from us here as Burnley keep the bragging rights over Blackburn in the Lancashire derby. Stay tuned on Sports Mole throughout the afternoon for more live coverage, including Charlton vs. Brentford in the Championship. Live coverage for that one starts in five minutes, so do join us there. Goodbye!