Duff focusing on bigger picture as he looks for first derby win

In his 10th season at Burnley, Michael Duff has not been on the winning side on six occasions against old enemy Blackburn Rovers.
Michael DuffMichael Duff
Michael Duff

But while keen to put an end to that sequence, and earn a first victory in the derby since April 1979, the 36-year-old admits this season, with the Clarets pushing for automatic promotion, it’s not all about the bragging rights.

Burnley go into the game five points clear of third-place Derby, with 13 matches remaining.

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And Duff, who first lined up against Rovers in the FA Cup meetings in 2005, admitted: “It’s a big thing locally, but I know it’s the most boring thing in the world, it’s all about three points. At this stage, every point is massive.

“We all know about the big stat that it’s over 30 years since Burnley beat Blackburn, but this year there’s a bigger picture.

“Recently it might have been the be all and end all to beat Blackburn.

“But this year it would be the icing on the cake if we could do it and get promoted as well.

“It doesn’t matter who we play against, we play to win every game, and this game is no different.”