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Derby County vs Burnley. Sky Bet Championship.

Pride Park StadiumAttendance33,010.

Clarets denied at death

Image: Connolly: Scored leveller

Burnley were left to rue a failure to see the game out at Pride Park as Paul Connolly struck a leveller for Derby.

Connolly strikes to dent Burnley's play-off bid

Burnley were left to rue a failure to see the game out at Pride Park as Paul Connolly struck a leveller for Derby three minutes into added time. Owen Coyle's Clarets had looked on course for an impressive haul on their travels when Chris McCann broke the deadlock on the hour mark from close range. Derby though are different proposition these days under Nigel Clough and at the death proved their spirit, as Connolly met Gary Teale's pinpoint delivery with a diving header. Prior to the interval there had been numerous chances, with Teale proving a constant threat for Derby and Clarke Carlisle sending a looping header against the crossbar for the visitors. Burnley remain fifth in the table following the result, while Derby are six points clear of the relegation zone, with games in hand on the majority of their rivals.

Derby changes

Clough made four changes to the Derby side which drew 0-0 with Barnsley prior to the international break. Kris Commons returned following nearly six weeks out with a calf problem, while Jay McEveley, Stephen Pearson and Barry Bannan also came in to the starting XI. Burnley boss Owen Coyle named an unchanged side for the third game in succession as his side went in search of a fifth win in their last six league games. Derby were the first to threaten in the fifth minute and Jensen had to react well to tip away a 20-yard shot from Teale. The Clarets responded almost immediately with Carlisle sending a header onto the bar from a Chris Eagles corner and Martin Paterson's follow-up forcing a fine save from Stephen Bywater. Steven Caldwell headed over moments later as Derby struggled to deal with another corner. The hosts then went close themselves after 21 minutes with the impressive Teale cutting in from the left before unleashing a fierce 25-yard drive that was palmed over by Jensen. Soon after, Rob Hulse attempted to take the ball around Jensen only for the Burnley stopper to get a vital hand to the ball.
Opportunities spurned
There were few further opportunities before the interval, although Derby appeared marginally the more likely to find a goal as the opening half drew to a close. The second period started as the first ended, with neither side able to carve out a clear-cut chance. However, when an opportunity did arrive, the visitors opened the scoring as McCann capitalised on Steven Bywater's error to net his eighth goal of the season. The midfielder was on hand to slot the ball home from six yards after Bywater failed to deal with a long ball into the penalty area. Teale fired wide from 18 yards as the Rams looked to get back on level terms, but they were unable to severely test the Clarets defence. At the other end, Robbie Blake had a chance to double his side's lead, only to drag his shot wide from the edge of the area. A raft of substitutions did little to lift the quality of attacking play and goalmouth action continued to be at a premium in the closing stages. However, Derby refused to give up and Connolly's late header ensured they claimed a share of the spoils.

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