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| Keith Treacy set up the first goal for Charlie Austin |
Austin struck twice in the second half, either side of a Theo Robinson goal for Derby, to finally get our season underway with that first victory at the fourth time of asking. His first goal owed much to the superb work of Keith Treacy but his second was a real centre-forward's goal, latching on to a loose ball as a Ross Wallace shot came back off goalkeeper Frank Fielding.
There is no doubt this was a result we full deserved and, after the recent negativity, it's a result that will really kick start our season once we return after the international break.
The journey down wasn't an easy one for many Burnley fans. Those who opted for the M1 route had serious problems whilst those, like ourselves, who went via the M6 and A50 had similar problems caused by 'swan necking' two separate incidents on the north bound carriageway.
Thankfully, there in good time, we learned that Eddie Howe had made two changes from the team that had kicked off against Cardiff a week earlier. Chris McCann was back after being rested for the Carling Cup game but, a forced change, David Edgar was preferred to Andre Amougou in the centre of defence with Michael Duff now ruled out for a number of weeks.
In the only other change, Howe recalled Danish goalkeeper Brian Jensen and in doing so re-fuelled the Jensen v Coyne Kiraly Penny Grant debate. It was Jensen's first game of the season having been a substitute in all the previous games.
Due to the clear colour clash between white and claret shirts, Burnley were forced into their away kit of yellow shirts with claret shorts and socks and we kicked off defending the end where there was more than a healthy following of Burnley fans.
Without ever reaching fever pitch, we were the better side in the first half. It ebbed and flowed but at no point in the first 45 minutes did Jensen ever look in danger of conceding a goal. The same certainly couldn't be said at the other end where Fielding, strangely getting away with it from the away fans despite his former club, was considerably more fortunate.
He saved from Austin, saw both Treacy and Ross Wallace come close and then had a large slice of luck as his right hand post came to his rescue. It owed much to the once again in form Wallace whose delivery was perfect from the right wing. It found the head of Austin who was so unfortunate to see his header hit the post.
Apart from that, the best opportunity fell to, of all people, Edgar from a well worked corner routine. The ball was worked from the left by Treacy and just as it looked as if Wallace would have a crack he stepped over the ball for Edgar who hit his shot much too high.
Without a goal at half time, I think we were unfortunate to go in level. It had, at times, been a bit pedestrian, but we looked to be in control of the game and Derby were struggling to get any real foothold.
Derby hadn't dropped a point all season; they'd only conceded one goal, but that was about to change in a second half that was so much more exciting.
They made two changes, replacing Jamie Ward (the red card expert) and Steve Davies with Lee Croft and Theo Robinson. Nigel Clough said later the changes were due to injury but I'm not sure many will have fallen for that. He needed to make changes to get his team into the game.
Robinson forced an early save out of the Beast but with less than four minutes gone in the second half it was Burnley who took the lead. Treacy beat full back Mark O'Brien and then amazingly came along the goal line from the right wing.
He finished it off by laying the ball back for Austin who transferred the ball to his right foot and made no mistake. What a start to the second half and now we just needed to keep going and get the game won.
What ensued was a right ding dong battle with Derby obviously needing a goal to get back into the game. Both sides could have scored too. The closest our hosts came was when Ben Mee brilliantly cleared off the line whilst down at our end Treacy was inches away from doubling the lead but saw his shot, like Austin's first half header, come back off the post.
Derby were throwing men forward and I recall looking at the clock as the time gone went up to 70 minutes. "This could be a tough 20 minutes," I said and then wished I'd never opened my mouth.
Almost immediately Derby were level. From a throw on the right they got through far too easily and when the cross came over Robinson got between Kieran Trippier and Edgar leaving him with the easiest of finishes.
All the good work undone in one move and now I suspected it would be real backs to the wall stuff as Derby would surely pile forward for a winner. Not on your life; three minutes later we were back in front.
The ball was played up to Jay Rodriguez who laid it off for Wallace to have a shot at goal. It might have been almost at the goalkeeper but it was a difficult one to deal with and Fielding could do no more than parry it.
As the shot went in, Austin was in the D on the edge of the penalty box. When the ball came back off Fielding he was right there, anticipating it like a goalscorer does. He finished unerringly and then charged over to the Burnley fans to celebrate.
This coming week we'll be voting for our Goal of the Month for August. There have been some outstanding goals, but don't dismiss this one. This is the sort of goal predators get. Payts had a catalogue of them and if you could see footage of the 1960s you would see Willie Irvine scoring goals like this on a regular basis.
It led to the most sensational of finishes and as exciting as anything we've seen this season. Jensen made a spectacular save and then Austin should surely have claimed his first Burnley hat trick. In an almost carbon copy of his first goal, he was set up this time by Jay Rod, but blazed over.
Four chances in an away game. One against the post, two in the net and one soaring over the bar. That'll do for me.
As the 90 minutes drew closer we were discussing how much added time there would be. We knew it would be extensive but were initially shocked when the fourth official held up a number 7 on his electronic board.
I've since had it confirmed that there were over 5 minutes lost to injury; there were three goals scored and there were two substitutions. It was no excessive but we could have done without it.
We managed to extend it too by making another change but in truth we got through it comfortably with some very good play. Marney, Rodriguez and substitute Amougou all used their heads and made good runs with the ball deep into Derby territory. Marney's should probably have ended in a third goal as he went one-on-one with the keeper.
But it didn't matter. When referee Haines blew the final whistle we'd won it 2-1. We'd deserved to win it and some poor soul from the message board was left with a free range egg on his face after predicting this game would take us to the bottom of the league.
Howe still wants additions to his squad, and that's no surprise. He'll be without Martin Paterson, Danny Ings and now Duff for a while although he'll be able to add Marvin Bartley to his squad after the international break.
So our first league win of the season comes exactly where last season's final win came - at Pride Park. Not that long ago Derby were very much a bogy team for Burnley both home and away. That looks to have been well and truly put to bed now.
Well done Clarets yesterday. It was enjoyable, it was successful. More of the same please and let's get up that table.
The teams were;
Derby County: Frank Fielding, John Brayford, Mark O'Brien, Jason Shackell, Kevin Kilbane, James Bailey, Jeff Hendrick, Craig Bryson, Jamie Ward (Lee Croft 45), Ben Davies, Steve Davies (Theo Robinson 45). Subs not used: Adam Legzdins, Chris Maguire, Gareth Roberts.
Yellow Card: Jamie Ward.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Kieran Trippier, David Edgar, Ben Mee, Brian Easton, Ross Wallace (Wade Elliott 82), Dean Marney, Chris McCann, Keith Treacy (Alex MacDonald 90+2), Charlie Austin (Andre Amougou 85), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Zavon Hines.
Referee: Andy Haines (Sunderland).
Attendance: 23,913 (including 946 Clarets).