Burnley denied long-awaited victory in painful fashion

Burnley’s long and painful wait for a win continues after being denied three points in stoppage-time by Derby County.

Nicky Hayen’s side looked to be heading for their first victory of the season courtesy of Zeki Amdouni’s first-half header.

But Mo Fuseini struck three minutes into time added on to break Burnley hearts, to keep them bottom of the Championship table.

It also means the Clarets remain without a league win since February, while their wait for three points at Turf Moor extends to 338 days.

The result will also raise inevitable questions over Hayen’s position after Burnley’s failure to win what he himself described as a “must-win” game.

Hayen made some huge selection calls, none more so than in goal where he opted to drop Max Weiss.

It follows his clanger against Swansea City last time out, which also followed a number of uncertain displays in between the sticks.

Elsewhere, stand-in skipper Kyle Walker was also dropped despite his public appearances this week, where he fronted up for Burnley’s poor start by speaking to the local press, as well as club staff and the Fan Advisory Board (FAB).

Marcus Edwards, meanwhile, has been re-registered in Burnley’s squad and was thrown straight back into the starting XI.

The Burnley Express understands Hannibal, who has been ruled out for three to four months with a hamstring injury, has been taken out of Burnley’s official 25-man squad list, meaning there’s still one spot free.

Oliver Sonne, Ugo Raghouber, Aaron Ramsey and Largie Ramazani were the four to drop out alongside Weiss and Walker.

Ramsey, like Hannibal, is now missing with a hamstring injury, joining Josh Cullen, Enock Agyei, Jaydon Banel and Dastan Satpayev on the sidelines.

Jacob Bruun Larsen was expected to remain out until after the international break, but he was a surprise starter.

The other five to come into the side were Gregoire Coudert, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Lucas Pires, Reo Hatate and the aforementioned Edwards.

Zeki Amdouni continued to lead the line, meaning Jamie Vardy remained on the bench as he continues to build up his fitness.

Ben Amos, Jordan Beyer, Bashir Humphreys, Shurandy Sambo, Mike Tresor, Ashley Barnes and Michael Obafemi are all unavailable having been left out of Burnley’s squad list.

As for Derby, former Claret Charlie Taylor started as John Eustace made four changes to the side that lost at home to Birmingham City last time out.

It was a cagey opening to proceedings, perhaps to be expected in a game between two sides low on confidence.

Derby were the first side to threaten, David Ozoh seeing his strike from outside the box deflect just behind for a corner.

The Rams then ought to have scored from the resulting delivery, but Dion Sanderson somehow managed to miss the target with a square header when he was basically on the goalline at the back post.

Burnley looked short on ideas, dominating possession but unable to penetrate. That’s up until the 34th minute, when they took the lead with their first shot on target.

Incredibly, it came via a set piece, as Zeki Amdouni scored for the second time in three games by heading a corner down into the ground, which saw the ball bounce up high into the roof of the net.

Derby keeper Josh Vickers, who had Jacob Bruun Larsen on his toes, will have been disappointed for his part in the goal, making a complete hash of dealing with Lucas Pires’ deep delivery.

Burnley were fortunate to avoid a scare three minutes before the interval, with Ahmedhodzic forced to clear away from near the goalline after former Blackburn man Sammie Szmodics had flattened Coudert as he tried to reach a long ball over the top.

Before the half was up, Connor Roberts then made an important last-ditch block to deny Bobby Clark as the Rams eyed an equaliser before the break.

Coudert came to Burnley’s aid in the first minute of the second half, making a strong save at his near post to deny Ozoh from a tight angle.

But the Clarets were otherwise improved since the restart, more willing to get on the front foot and finally able to sustain some attacks.

The hosts were given a let off on the hour mark when Ryan Hedges dragged a shot wastefully wide of goal after Burnley had failed to clear their lines from a long throw into the box.

Hayen made his first changes of the afternoon shortly afterwards, introducing Ugo Raghouber and Largie Ramazani.

The game remained a scrappy one, but Burnley almost found the second goal they craved as Ramazani had a shot blocked shortly after his introduction, following an excellent flowing move started by Igor bringing the ball out from the back.

The sub was again involved in the thick of the action a moment later, seeing a low drive deflect just wide of the upright.

But as we entered the final 15 minutes, you just knew the nerves would start to creep in. But Coudert pulled off another solid save, diving low to his left to push away Clark’s effort.

Saying that, Burnley actually saw out the remainder of the game relatively well, opting to get on the front foot and press from the front, rather than sitting in and inviting pressure, which was the problem against Bristol City a couple of weeks ago.

But that all changed deep into stoppage time, as Derby rescued themselves a point courtesy of Mo Fuseini, who had acres of space to run into before sending a fierce low drive beyond Coudert and into the far corner.

It prompted a deflating, befuddled reaction at full time, as several of Burnley’s players slumped to turf in disbelief at what had just occurred.

TEAMS

Burnley: Coudert, Roberts, Ahmedhodzic, Igor, Pires (Sonne), Alleyne, Laurent, Hatate (Raghouber), Edwards (Ramazani), Bruun Larsen (Hountondji), Amdouni (Vardy)

Subs not used: Weiss, Ekdal, Walker, Broja

Derby: Vickers, Ozoh (Brewster), Sanderson, Taylor (Blackett-Taylor), Hedges (Fuseini), Mowatt (Fraulo), Ward, Langas, Clark, Szmodics, Morris

Subs not used: O’Donnell, Salvesen, Travis, Johnston, Offor

Referee: Steve Martin