Burnley’s quest for a first league triumph since February was thwarted at Turf Moor when Derby County’s Mohammed Fuseini struck a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time, leaving the hosts to settle for a 1-1 draw in the Championship. The Ghanaian winger, who arrived on loan from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise on deadline day, unleashed an angled shot from the edge of the box, curling the ball into the far post with his inside foot for his inaugural goal for the Rams.
The match had seemed to tilt in Burnley’s favour after Switzerland forward Zeki Amdouni headed home from a Lucas Pires corner in the 34th minute. Amdouni’s powerful header found the net after goalkeeper Josh Vickers failed to claim the ball, giving the new manager Nicky Hayen a much‑needed lead and a brief respite from the criticism that has surrounded his short tenure since taking charge in July. Hayen, who has been under pressure to reverse the club’s fortunes, described the fixture as a "must‑win" encounter ahead of the game.
Despite the early advantage, Derby’s response was swift. Midfielder David Ozoh tested Burnley from distance just after the quarter‑hour mark, his effort deflecting wide. A subsequent corner from Joe Ward saw defender Dion Sanderson rise at the far post, only to flick the ball back across the goalmouth. The early exchanges hinted at a tightly contested battle between two sides fighting to escape the bottom three of the league.
Hayen made six changes to his starting eleven in an attempt to rejuvenate a side that had suffered a defeat at Swansea the previous weekend. Notable omissions included goalkeeper Max Weiss and former Manchester City defender Kyle Walker, while winger Marcus Edwards was reinstated after being omitted from the club’s 25‑man EFL squad earlier in the month.
Derby continued to press, and just before the break they came close to leveling the score. Former Blackburn striker Sammie Szmodics broke free on a long ball from Ward, but his run was halted when he collided with Burnley defender Gregoire Coudert, who had already been forced to the ground. With the goalkeeper down, Ryan Hedges attempted a follow‑up, only to see his shot blocked by Igor Julio.
Later, Carlton Morris cleared a loose ball to Szmodics, whose effort from a tight angle was cleared from inside the six‑yard box by Anel Ahmedhodzic. The second half began with Ozoh threatening an equaliser within the first minute, sprinting down the left flank and unleashing a fierce angled strike that Coudert saved at his near post. Hedges then produced a good chance from 12 yards, but his shot drifted wide as Burnley struggled to cope with a long throw from Derby.
Burnley attempted to extend their lead, with substitute Largie Ramazani finding space but being denied by a well‑timed block from Dion Sanderson after Jacob Bruun Larsen combined with Lucas Pires to set up the chance. Later, a low‑driven effort from Bobby Clark was parried expertly by Coudert, who pushed the ball away to his left.
The dead‑lock was finally broken in stoppage time when Rhian Brewster delivered a precise pass to Fuseini, who calmly slotted the ball past Vickers to restore parity. The goal not only salvaged a point for Derby but also ensured Burnley remained winless and anchored at the foot of the Championship table, a disappointing outcome after Hayen had publicly labelled the match a "must‑win".
In the post‑match interview, 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 replied, "I don't know.
I really hope so because I work hard for this club and want to give back to the fans for their patience. I understand how disappointed they are and that they even blame me.
I have no problem with that." Hayen reflected on the Derby game, admitting he could not predict the consequences of the draw: "I don't know. 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, have feedback and 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'm always resilient.
I'm always a fighter. Tomorrow I come back with new positive energy. That's the energy I want to bring to the players and the club." Derby manager John Eustace praised his side’s defensive effort for most of the match, conceding only the soft goal from Fuseini.
He highlighted the importance of set‑piece proficiency, noting that Ozoh’s missed chance was part of his development. Eustace also joked about Fuseini’s celebratory cartwheel after the equaliser, saying, "I saw in his highlights reel that he likes to do a cartwheel when he scores. He won’t be doing it again, but when he scored, I asked him if he did his cartwheel, and he said yes. I hope there’ll be a few more cartwheels to come." Both clubs remain entrenched in the relegation battle, with Burnley’s recent form raising questions about Hayen’s future and Derby’s injury‑hit squad seeking to climb out of the bottom three.
The draw leaves Burnley still searching for that elusive first win of the season, while Derby can take solace in snatching a point away from home, keeping their survival hopes alive as the campaign progresses.