Burnley’s quest for a first league win since February was thwarted at Turf Moor when Derby County’s Mohammed Fuseini struck a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time, leaving the match deadlocked at 1-1 in the Championship. The Ghanaian winger, who arrived on loan from Belgian side Union Saint‑Gilloise on the final day of the transfer window, unleashed a precise angled shot from the run‑of‑play, threading the ball through the far‑post and into the net for his inaugural goal for the Rams. Earlier, Burnley had seemed poised to claim three points when Switzerland forward Zeki Amdouni headed home from a corner in the 34th minute. Amdouni’s powerful header found the back of the net after goalkeeper Josh Vickers failed to command a Lucas Pires delivery, giving the home side what appeared to be a much‑needed lead and easing the mounting pressure on new manager Nicky Hayen.

Hayen, who only took charge in July, has already faced scrutiny regarding his tenure, and this match was billed as a "must‑win" encounter. Despite Amdouni’s early advantage, Fuseini’s late strike ensured that Burnley stayed at the bottom of the Championship table, still without a victory. The result meant that Hayen’s side failed to secure the three points he had insisted were essential for survival. In an attempt to rejuvenate a squad that had suffered a defeat at Swansea the previous weekend, Hayen made six changes to the starting eleven.

He dropped goalkeeper Max Weiss and former Manchester City defender Kyle Walker, while reinstating winger Marcus Edwards, who had been omitted from Burnley’s 25‑man EFL squad earlier in the month. The overhaul was intended to inject fresh energy and address the defensive frailties that have plagued the team.

Derby, also languishing in the relegation zone and coping with a lengthy injury list, generated the opening chances just after the fifteen‑minute mark. Midfielder David Ozoh unleashed a long‑range effort that was deflected wide, and a subsequent corner taken by Joe Ward saw defender Dion Sanderson rise to meet the ball at the far post, only to head it back across the goalmouth. Amdouni then capitalised on a second‑half set‑piece, heading Burnley ahead with the match’s first on‑target effort. Derby came close to restoring parity three minutes before the break when former Blackburn striker Sammie Szmodics broke free on a long pass from Ward, only to collide with goalkeeper Gregoire Coudert.

With Coudert down, Ryan Hedges’ follow‑up was blocked by defender Igor Julio, and Carlton Morris’s attempt to clear the loose ball resulted in Szmodics shooting from a tight angle, only to be cleared by Anel Ahmedhodzic from within the six‑yard box. The second half began with Ozoh threatening to equalise just 50 seconds after the restart, sprinting down the left flank and unleashing a fierce angled shot that Coudert saved at his near post.

Hedges later drove a good chance wide from 12 yards after Burnley failed to deal with a long throw. As the game progressed, Burnley pressed for a second goal, with substitute Largie Ramazani seeing his effort blocked by a well‑timed tackle from Sanderson after Jacob Bruun Larsen linked up with Pires to set up the chance. In the final quarter of the hour, Coudert produced a superb low‑side save to deny Bobby Clark’s 20‑yard strike.

However, Derby soon levelled when Rhian Brewster delivered a perfect pass to substitute Fuseini, who calmly slotted the ball home to secure the draw. After the final whistle, Hayen was asked about his prospects of remaining in charge when Burnley return from the three‑week international break for their next league fixture away at Watford on October 10.

He responded, "I don't know. I really hope so because I work very hard for this club and I want to give back to the fans for their patience.

I understand how disappointed they are and that they even blame me. I don't have a problem with that." Hayen reiterated that he had labelled the Derby game a "must‑win" but admitted he could not predict the ramifications of the dropped points. "I don't know," he said.

"You have to ask this question to other people, but I speak a lot with those people also. We always do a recap of the game, get feedback and have an honest conversation. I know the fans are disappointed.

We have had a really bad start and this is not what I expected. But I am resilient. I am a fighter. Tomorrow I will come back with new positive energy.

That's how I work, and that's the energy I want to bring to the players and the club." Derby County manager John Eustace praised his side’s defensive effort for most of the match, conceding only the soft goal at the far post. He highlighted Ozoh’s lapse in concentration leading to the goal and emphasized the importance of set‑piece proficiency, noting that losing the game on such a scenario would have been "a real kick in the teeth." Eustace also commented on Fuseini’s celebration, recalling that the young forward had performed a cartwheel after scoring, a habit he hoped would continue. Both clubs now face the daunting task of climbing out of the relegation battle.

Burnley must find a way to convert early dominance into points, while Derby will look to build on the resilience shown to secure more draws and, ideally, victories as the season progresses.