![\"Burnley](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/129502136_shutterstock_editorial_13884876ax-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Burnley")
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Promoted Burnley finally clinched the Championship title with a win over rivals Blackburn Rovers in the east Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.<\/p>\n
Manuel Benson\u2019s superb second-half strike broke the deadlock for the Clarets in a feisty match that had a high tempo but saw both sides limited in clear-cut chances in front of goal.<\/p>\n
Blackburn created more opportunities, with five shots on target to one from Burnley, as Dom Hyam saw a strike from distance saved and Sammie Szmodics almost flicked the ball inside the near post in stoppage time.<\/p>\n
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The hosts also had strong penalty shouts waved away in the final few seconds when Callum Brittain\u2019s cross appeared to hit Ashley Barnes\u2019 arm.<\/p>\n
The defeat hits Rovers\u2019 chances of reaching the play-offs and leaves them in eighth place, without a win in their past seven league games and outside the top six on goal difference with two games to go.<\/p>\n
Since securing promotion back to the Premier League on 7 April, Burnley\u2019s charge towards the Championship title stuttered.<\/p>\n
They came into the game off the back of two draws and\u00a0a shock 2-1 defeat by QPR\u00a0in their last outing, which ended their undefeated record at Turf Moor.<\/p>\n
It had looked like nerves might be getting the better of Vincent Kompany\u2019s side, who produced no shots on target during a cagey first 45 minutes where both teams struggled in the final third.<\/p>\n
Blackburn ended the first half in the ascendancy despite lacking a clinical edge, with Tyrhys Dolan sending a tame shot at Ari Muric and Hyam also seeing a volley from a corner comfortably saved.<\/p>\n
Szmodics had a chance to snatch the lead for Rovers shortly after the break, flicking the ball on from close range, but Muric was again able to deal with it.<\/p>\n
Kompany started to ring the changes just before the hour mark and it proved worthwhile, with Benson finding the net out of nothing eight minutes after coming on as a substitute to score his 10th league goal of the season.<\/p>\n
The Belgian bounded down the right as Burnley broke into Rovers\u2019 half, shifting the ball on to his left foot and launching a shot from distance past Aynsley Pears into the far corner.<\/p>\n
Szmodics came close to an equaliser deep in stoppage time, sending the ball across the face of goal and almost beyond Muric, but a quick bit of Burnley defending turned the ball behind for a corner.<\/p>\n
In the fifth and final minute of stoppage time Barnes then seemed to stretch out his arm to block Brittain\u2019s cross but referee Tim Robinson turned down Blackburn\u2019s appeals.<\/p>\n
Tempers flared after the full-time whistle between some players and both benches, but things calmed down quickly so Burnley could celebrate in front of their 2,000 fans.<\/p>\n
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