BURNLEY legend David Eyres says it was a privilege to have been at Ewood Park to witness the Clarets secure their first win over Blackburn Rovers in 35 years.

Burnley had not beaten Rovers since 1979 but Danny Ings’ goal gave them a 2-1 victory yesterday.

“I’m so happy, I just wish I could have been behind the goal with the fans,” said former Burnley winger Eyres, who was commentating on the game for radio.

“It’s been long overdue and it was great to see the fans celebrating as if we’ve actually been promoted. It means so much to them.

“I don’t think it was our best performance but I don’t think anyone could give a jot, it was just about the result and it’s put us in a much healthier and stronger position to get into the Premier League.

“We were due the rub of the green against Blackburn and I think we got that when Jordan Rhodes had the opportunity to make it 2-0.”

Clarets great Willie Irvine said: “I am so proud of the lads for standing up and being counted. It is a proud day and I am very proud to be a Burnley fan.

“It’s a great result particularly for the supporters. They have had a lot of patience – 35 years of it – and now that wait is over. I am delighted.

“They deserved the win. I thought Burnley were excellent and although Rovers had their moments, I felt Burnley were the better side.

“We are in a great position now and I think we will go up automatically. The squad is doing the town proud and they are being superbly managed by Sean Dyche.

“It is a wonderful result and hopefully we can now go on and get promotion to the Premier League.

Former Burnley midfielder Paul Weller said: “The ultimate difference was the substitutions.

“The quality of Wallace’s ball for the equaliser was superb and it changed the game. Once they got that equaliser for me there was only one team who were going to win it.

“It’s a monkey to get off the back but the three points are more important because of the eight-point gap in the promotion race now. From Blackburn’s point of view their turning point was when David Dunn went off.

“Yes, he might not be able to last 90 minutes but sometimes you need your talisman on the pitch.

“He might only be able to walk around for a bit but you need to know that quality’s still there and something might happen.”

Blackburn Rovers’ all-time leading scorer Simon Garner said: “I would have left Dunny on for as long as he could last but that’s the manager’s decision, that’s not what cost them the game.

“Jordan Rhodes hitting the post was the turning point when it could have been 2-0.

“The result is frustrating but it was going to happen some time and it was always going to be disappointing when it did happen.”