Lancashire

Blackburn Rovers host East Lancashire rivals Burnley on Saturday in one of three early kick-offs in the Championship (12:30 GMT).

Rovers have not won in four league games and have dropped out of the play-off places, but are level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

A win could see them move up to fifth but they will need to defeat a Burnley side that started the year with a goalless draw to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 league games.

• Blackburn Rovers have failed to win any of their past nine league meetings with Burnley (D4 L5), since a 1-0 away victory in the Premier League in March 2010.

• Burnley have won each of their last three away league games against Blackburn Rovers, with no team currently on a longer winning streak at Ewood Park as visitors.

• Three of Blackburn's last four Championship defeats have come at home, though they have not lost their opening home game of a calendar year since 2015 against Wolves, going nine unbeaten since (W4 D5) then.

• Burnley are unbeaten in each of their last six away league games (W4 D2), keeping five clean sheets in that period – the Clarets have conceded the fewest goals on the road in the Championship so far this term (5).

• Blackburn are winless in their last six league games against fellow Lancashire opposition (D4 L2), since beating Blackpool 1-0 in February 2023, while Burnley are unbeaten in their last 10 such games (W5 D5), since losing 2-0 to Preston in December 2015.

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker has hinted that new signing Oliver Sonne could be in the reckoning for Saturday's East Lancashire derby against Blackburn Rovers.

Peru international Sonne, a 24-year-old right-back, joined the club this week from Danish club Silkeborg and Parker said it was not a case of investing in potential.

Sonne, who has won 10 caps for his country and has played in the European Conference League, is battling Connor Roberts for a starting berth at Ewood Park.

"He's someone the club have been tracking for a while, and we bring him into compete for a position in which we're probably a little bit light," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He has big quality and potential as well, but is still in the early stages of development in his game and I feel we can bring his game on.

"He's an attacking full-back, physically very, very good and he seems a very good boy and from watching him from afar and someone I am really looking forward to working with.

"You're signing a player from abroad rather than someone who has been in the division, so there's elements of seeing how he fits up to that, but we see a player here that adds to us instantly and will bring quality and affect us as a team."