Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BARNES PROVES HE STILL HAS A FUTURE UNDER KOMPANY
BURNLEY 3 Barnes 55, 81, Zaroury 74
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BY STUART BRENNAN
ASHLEY BARNES seized his big chance to sink rivals Blackburn and send Burnley top heading into the World Cup break.
The long-serving Clarets striker stepped in when Jay Rodriguez failed a late fitness test and ended his Championship goal drought in style as he scored twice. He also played an important role in Anass Zaroury’s strike.
Both teams had eyes on top spot before kick-off in this East Lancashire derby.
But the outcome was never in doubt once Barnes started to impose his considerable frame on the game in only his fifth league start of the campaign.
“I’ve had to stay patient and I’m pleased with myself,” 33-year-old Barnes said. “I’ve been here a long time, ten years in January, and it’s something special.
“I want to help the team, and I didn’t know until the morning of the game I was going to get a chance to pay the fans back.
“Everyone wants to play in derby games and give the fans a nice Sunday.”
In the first league meeting between the two old rivals in six and a half years, the derby clash burst into life in the second half.
The lively Zaroury skipped to the byline and swung over a dangerous cross and Barnes was perfectly placed to head home the 55th-minute opener for his first league goal of the season.
Barnes then played a key part in the second, volleying Nathan Tella’s flick at Rovers keeper Thomas Kaminski, and when the ball rebounded to
Zaroury, he made no mistake.
The Turf Moor fans were in derby heaven when
Barnes calmly scored a third in the 81st minute after the Clarets press had forced an error. Josh Brownhill then did superbly to beat Clinton Mola and cross.
Burnley, who had been knocked off the top by Sheffield United on Saturday, returned to the summit after recording their biggest win in this fixture since February 1965.
Boss Vincent Kompany said: “It’s as good as it gets. Turf Moor was rocking and bouncing from beginning to end, and we got to experience a special moment together. We can’t lower our standards or habits. The basics will be what we pay attention to when we come back.”
Blackburn ended up on the wrong side of a local derby hammering and boss Jon Dahl Tomasson admitted: “When you reflect how we’ve been playing lately on the ball, it was not good enough. We are, of course, disappointed with the result for our fans as it’s a derby.”